IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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1.0 


I.I 


IIIIIM 

12.0 


1.8 


1.25 

U_     1.6 

■• 6"     

► 

VI 


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Photographic 

Sdences 
Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


€S 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


«• 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  tor  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  dtd  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pellicul6e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


D 
0 
D 


D 
0 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolordes,  tachetdes  ou  piqu6es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


□    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


• 


D 
0 


0 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serri^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int6rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6td  filmdes. 


0 
0 
0 


Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  matdriel  supniementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6td  film^es  d  nouveau  de  fapon  i 
obtenir  la  meiileure  image  possible. 


0 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires; 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


lire 

details 
les  du 
modifier 
ler  une 
filmage 


§es 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanlcs 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  the  Public 
Archives  of  Canada 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  Impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

La  bibliothdque  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Canada 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  filmis  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commandant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  1:erminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derni^re  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  fitre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droits, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


'  errata 
d  to 

It 

e  pelure, 

:on  d 


n 

32X 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

/ 

THE 


OLIVE  BRANCH, 

OR 

FxVULTS   ON    BOTH   SIDES, 

FEI^ERAL    AND    DEMOCIIATIC. 
A  SERIOUS  APPEAL  ON  THE  NECESSITY  OP 

MUTUAL  FORGIVJiNESS 

AND 

HARMONY. 

TO  SAYG 

OUR  COMMON  COUNTRY  FROM  RUIN, 


THIRD  EDlTJOJ\i\ 

OREATLY  ENLARGED  AND  IMPROVED^ 


\ 


BY  M.  CAREY. 

PUILASELFHIA. 


"  Faction  is  the  madness  of  the  many  for  the  heneflt  of  the  few." 

"  Frenzied  be  the  liead  •  palsied  be  ihe  hand — that  attempts  to  de- 
stroy tlie  union."     Gen.  Eaton 

"  Truths  wouhl  you  toach — or  save  a  sinking  land  : 

"  AH  fear — nont-  aid  you — and  few  umierstand,"     Pope, 

•*  Every  h.'ns^dom  divided  against  itself  is  brought  to  DESOLA* 
TIOjX."    Matt.  12,  25. 


JBOSTOJSi'. 

REFRINIED  BY  ROWE  AND  HOOPER, 


Feb.  1815. 


:  if 


^ 


JK 


U' 


TiiE  VOICE  OF  WASIIIxXGTON. 

"  Theuvify  of  oarervniml,  which  con.slilule.i  jjoh  one  people,  is  dcai 
fotjou.  fl  is  jnsily  so  ;  for  it  is  a  wain  pillar  in  the  vdijicc  of  j/our  real 
imUpendence,  tltc  fuppoit  of  i/otir  IratiquUify  at  home,  your  peace  abroad  ; 
of  t/niir  safly  ;  vf  your  pinsptr:ty  ;  of  that  very  lilteily  tchich  you  S9 
h-ghly  puze.  but  ns  n  is  <;isy  li.  I(,ifsc« ,  tteft  Vi„m  UtlK'ifiit  raiiscji, 
and  iHnii  diHt  Kill  tpiarltrs,  iinuh  pmvs  irm  tie  tuUn,  mavy  urtijices 
emjil'iijtd,  to  Jcca/itn  in  your  rnonh  the  comidion  of  tht.i  tiuth  ;  as  U.is 
is  llu  |)(iiiii  ill  jour  |)uiiiii',il  /'oilress,  iigiimst  \\  hu  h  ilie  hatuiU'S 
of  internal  and  (Xirnial  rncmi»s  will  he  nmet  conslnitly  nnd  ar- 
t  ivily  (llnMij{li  ()fl«  11  covoilly  antl  iiiBn-luuisly )  d;ir<l«d,  it  in  of  inf. 
t)i!e  viomenl,  l/,al  ynu  shoultl  properly  estimate  the  inivn-nse  value  of 
your  inilional  union,  to  your  cflltcnve  and  individual  l,appincs'<  i  that 
you  should  cherish  a  eoidtal,  habitual  and  tmmoteahe  attachment  to  it  ; 
accustomivo  i/oiirselvcs  to  think  and  speak  of  it  as  of  the  putladiuw  of 
ynvr  political  safely  and  piosperisy  ;  watching  fir  its  pnservution  with 
jeal'iU^  anxiety  ;  discountenancing  whoever  may  suuges.  eitn  n  suspi. 
ci'tn  thai  it  (an  in  any  event  be  abumloned  ;  and  indignantly  fioitning' 
vpon  the  first  dawning  rf  every  attempt  to  alien  any  portion  of  our 
couoliy  fiom  the  rest,  or  to  ehfeeble  the  sacred  ties  which  now  link  to- 
gether the  various  pat ts. 

"  .All  <>l»stnu't  ions  to  tlie  txrcution  of  ilip  laws;  uU  combiva'ions 
uvd  assncintions,  undfr  whatever  pl^iutible  c/iaraclcr,  with  a  real  de- 
sign to  direct,  control,  otin'eract,  tr  awe  the  rrau'ar  deliboation  and 
ac'ion  of  the  constituted  uuihirrilies,  are  destruciire  of  this  fundamen- 
tnl  pvinctpte,  and  (f  flint  tendency  They  serve  In  otganize  faction,  to 
give  it  an  urtifcinl  and  exlraordinaiy  force — to  juit  in  llie  place  of 
thf  lUlrijiiic^  will  of  the  iialion,  tin*  will  of  a  parly,  cflrii  a  small 
hill  Ml  ifiil  and  tnlei  p:  izin;;  innoiHy  of  ll>e  <'otniiinnily  ;  and,  a<<  ord- 
ilia  t''  ll"'  al(eiii;»te  tnnmplis  of  ditt'iifnt  paitit's,  lo  make  llie  pub- 
lic a<tniiiiis!ra(!nii  Ihr  minor  of  'Aw  ill  conrrrh'd  and  inroti(:i  iions 
priijirts  of  fu<ii<)ii,  r.illtcr  llian  tlif  organ  of  ronsistt  nl  and  «  lioie- 
suiiie  plans,  di|i;rs(('d  l»y  coiiiiiiui)  counsels,  and  modihed  by  nintnal 
inlrrosis 

•  IIos*fV('r  combinations  or  associalioiis  of  ilii*  above  dcacriptioii 
may  no^^  uitd  tbcn  answer  popTilnr  ciid^,  (hey  ar«'  liktly,  in  Ibc  course 
of  linic  mid  things,  to  become  poient  engines,  by  which  cunnintr, 
^imbitions  and  unprincipled  men  will  be  enabUd  to  tmlivert  \\\q power 
of  the  people,  and  to  usurp  to  themselves  the  leius  of  governmcnl ; 
deslioyiiig  aficrwards  the  very  engines  which  iiave  lifted  them  to  un- 
just dniiiinion. 

"  Party  spi,it  serves  always  to  distract  the  public  councils,  and  enfeeble 
the  public  administration  It  agitates  the  community  tvith  ill  founded  jeal- 
ous ei  and  false  alarms  ;  kindles  the  animosity  of  one  part  against  another; 
foments  occasionally  not  and  in^uriecfion  ;  and  opens  the  door  to  foieign 
infuence  and  corruption,  tehich  find  a  facilitated  access  to  the  government 
itself  through  the  channel  of  party  passions^  Thus  the  policy  and  will  of 
one  country  are  subjected  to  the  policy  and  will  of  another?^ 


lit 


THIS  nooK, 

(AS  A  MARK  OFGRAHTL'DE  FOR 

INESTI.MABLIi      BLKSSINGS     ENJOY  KI), 

IN  LIBERTY  01' PERSON,  LIBERTY  OF  PROPERTY,  AND 

LIBERIY  OF  OPINIONS, 

TO  A  DECREE  NEVER  EXCEEDED  IN  THE  WORLD,) 

IS  REM-ECTrt'LTY  DEDIC.VTEU 

TO  A  BELOVED  BIT  BLEEDING  COUNTRY, 

TORN  IN   PIECES 

BY 

FACTIOLS,   DESPERATE,  COiJVUI^IVE,  ,\^D 

RUINOUS  STRUGGLES  FOR  POWER. 


IT  IS  LIKEWISE  DEDICATED  TO  THOSE 

MILLIONS    OF  HUMAN   BEINGS, 
WHO  NEITHHR  HOLD  NOR  SEEK  OFFICE, 
BUT    WHO    ARE     MADE     THE     INSTRUMENTS 
«  OF  THOSE  WHO  DO  SEEK  THEM  : 

AND  WHO,  WHILE  A  FOREIGN    ENEMY  PRESSES 

A I    THEIR    DOORS, 

ARE  ENFI*EBLED,    KEPT  FROM   UNION, 

AND  EXPOSED  TO  RUIN, 

TO  GRATIFY  THE  AMBITION  OF 

A  FEW   MEN, 

(NOT  ONE  IN   FIVE  THOUSAND  OF  THE  WHOLE 

COMMUNITY) 

WHO    HAVE  BROUGHT   TO  THE  VERY  VERGE    OF  DES 

TRUCTION,  THE    FAIREST    PROSPECT  THAT 

EVER  SHONE  ON  ANY  NA1  ION. 

BY  THE  AUTHOR. 

JV'ev.  8,  1814. 


■i:3w 


fc  ! 


r'**"^;,. 


_v<^V  • 


<^Sf^'~''^ 


i¥ 


GO,  OLIVE  BRANCH, 


imO  A  COMMUNITY,  WHICH,  DRUGCJED  INTO 

A  DEATH  LIKE  STUPOR, 

BEHOLDS  WITH  UxNPARALLELED  APATHY 

THK 

PILLARS  OF  THE  GOVERNMENT  TEARING  AWAY, 

PROPERTY  SINKING  IN  VALUE— 

THE  COUNTRY 

PROSTRATE  AT  THE  lEET  OF  A  RUTHLESS  FOE  j 

ANARCHY  RAPIDLY  APPROACHING  j 

A     NUMBER     OF    AMBITIOUS     LEADERS, 

KEGARDLESS  OF  THE  COMMON  DANGER, 

STRUGGLING    TO  SEIZE  UPON  THE  GOVERNMENT, 

AND  APPARENTLY  DETERMINED 

THE  COUNTRY  SHALL  GO  TO  PERDITION, 

UNLESS  THEY  CAN   POSSESS  THEMSELVES  OF  POWER; 

AND,  WITH  THIS  VIEW,    OPPOSING  AND  DEFEATING 

EVERY    MEASURE, 
CALCULATED  TO  ENSURE  OUR  SALVATION. 


APPEAL,    MY  LITTLE  BOOK,  TO  THE  PATRIOTISM, 
THE  HONOUR,  THE  FEELING,  THE  SELF-INTEREST 
'  •  OF  YOUR   READERS,  -      '•   ' 

TO  SAVE  A  NOBLE    NATION    FROM    IMPENDING    RUIN* 


\* 


■—  ;-^y!aateae-.:f;: 


PHKI  AC  K 


TO  THE  FUiST  EDITKLV. 


I  sup.Mir  lliis  liUle  uork  to  my  fVllow-citi/eiis  \\'\{\\  an 
iincoinrn.)))  (Icr^ree  of  Kolk-iliide  am!  anxiety.  Tlif  siilijcct 
it  tMiiIinicfs,  uikI  the  ohji-et  it  Ikjs  in  view,  are  nf  inexpnssi- 
ble  ?nai;nitii(Ie.  'I'lie  siihjeet  is  tlie  present  erilieal  silujitioii 
ot'tlie  United  Stutes,  uiih  the  causes  that  have  led  to  that 
situalioii ;  the  ohjeet,  to  dissipate  party  rage  and  rancour, 
and  restore  harmony  in  the  eommnnity. 

It  cannot  he  any  Ions*er  (Kmhtcd  that  there  exists  a  con- 
spiricy  in  \e\v-Kni;lan(l,  amoni^  a  few  of  the  m<'tst  wealthy 
and  iisiiiiential  citi/ens,  to  ettect  at  every  ha/aril  a  dissolu- 
li(»n  of  the  union,  and  to  form  a  separate  con fe(h:> racy. 
This  has  l)eerj  asserted  by  some  of  onr  citizens  for  year)*, 
and  strenuously  denied  by  others,  deceived  by  the  niasqne 
I  lie  conspirators  wore,  and   their  holhjw  proiVssions.     lint 


it  reqnires  more  than    Bfeotian   stupidity 


dni 


ness,  to 


hesitate  on  the  subject  af'ier  the   late  extraonl'nary  move- 
ments, which  cannot  possibly  have  any  other  object. 

It  is  eighteen  years  since  this  dany;eroiis  project  was  prn- 
muli^ated.*  From  that  period  to  the  present,  it  has  not 
been  one  hour  out  of  view.  And  unholy  and  pernicious  as 
was  the  end,  the  means  employed  were  at  least  equaly  un- 
holy and  pernicious.     Falsehood,  deception,  and  calumny, 


in  turn,  have  been  called  in  to  aid  the  desii'u.     The 


pa? 


*  In  .T  Sf  ri  If!  of  cPBa  <!,  imlilisliod  under  tl>e  signature  of  Pulli^.m,  in  llie 
Conn,  client  Co'"'"  t,  1790.     Sec  piigc '-.uV 


A 


* 


'¥ 


>..  »  ^e^.  — 


^  SI*"  -* 


// 


vi 


rui-iwrr. 


I 


'f 


sions  ol'lhf  peo|)!i'  have  hfiiii  k«*|)f  in  a  eoDslarit  slate  <»r  (lio 
inoil  cxtrava-'inl  I'xcitoiiu'nt.  Kvcry  act  ul'  the  i^o^  ciimiLiit. 
hus  livM'ii  |)lat'(>(l  iti  tiic  iiiDMt  iv'vohiiii;  point  oT  \\v\v.  'Co 
t!i<'  adinii'i'itniti'.ii  liuvc  Ijcimi  iiiu'cui^innlv  Jisciihi'd  llii'  tiioht 
(KiiMis  (»l))Ufts,  pur-.U(M|  by  tlio  most  (Ic'lc'stiihle  melius. 

Afjoiit  t\*o-tliii(ls  ui*  tliL'  |)up('rrt  piibiisliod  in  New-I^nj^- 
land  ari'  nppost'd  to  tln'  pn'sent  Hdmiiiistrulion,  Thoy  arc 
lili  ex-piti  t(*.  1  tliiiik  it  it  d(Hii)li'iil  w  iictiuM*  a  sini^lo  nuinlicr 
of  tli«  Cciititiol.  l/t'pt'Ctory,  liosloii  (iazcltc,  &e.  has  hiMii 
piililisjied  turyeiiis,  free  IVom  alt:ick:^nn  tin*  administratiuii. 
Aii'l  I  aai  [)i-etty  well  ('oiiviii.'od,  that  attempts  at  viixlica. 
iiori  are  liiutlly  ever  allowed  a  plaee.  The  nliject  steadily, 
mid  insui'iably,  and  iiid'.islrioiisly  pursued,  is  to  run  dtiun 
th.*  iniviuihents  in  otHee  at  all  events.  To  this  nhject  every 
ihin:^  is  niiKJe  subservient. 

On  the  injustice,  theern<dty  of  this  prncedtire,  it  is  need- 
le 5S  to  deseanf.  It  is  Ireatiny;  tiie  hii^iiest  [Miblie  Inneliona- 
ries  of  the  country,  eiiosen  by  the  unbiassed  su(lrai;es  oi'  a 
free  people,  worse  tiwin  we  should  treat  the  veriest  rascal 
ill  sneiely.  11*  he  were  accused  ot'any  crime  whatever,  his 
delViice  would  be  palienlly  heard  bcf'iire  sentence  was  pro- 
nounced. But  our  iirst  magistrate,  and  other  public  oi^eers, 
arc  accused,  tried,  and  condemned,  without  a  possibility  ui' 
delVnee.  • 

Tiiis  is  a  s;rcat  and  deplorable  evil — an  evil  so  inveter- 
ate, as  to  render  a  reine<ly  almost  hupelcss.  It  is  hardly 
possible  lor  any  government  to  stand  against  such  an  unjust 
system.  It  is  pregnant  with  the  most  awful  consecpiences 
(o  society. 

I  am  not  to  be  told,  that  there  are  many  papers  devoted 
to  the  defence  of  the  government  ns  well  as  to  run  it  down. 
This  1  well  know;  but  this  dies  not  remove  the  danger. 
Such  is  the  folly  of  the  times,  that  the  mass  of  our  citizens 
eoafine  themselves  to  those  papers  calculated  to  strengthen 
their  prejiidices.  They  rarely  read  defences  if  any  appear. 
And  thus  it  is  not  surprising  that  those  prejudices  become 
daily  more  and  more  inveterate — and  that  through  the  ad- 
dress and  inthistry  of  artful  men,  they  are  prepared  to  over- 
turn that  Constitution,  to  whose  abuse  and  perversion  they 
ascribe  all  those  suiTerings  which  have  really  flowed  from 
the  rapacity  and  injustice  of  the  belligerents. 

Besides  the  party  in  New-FJngland,  who  are  determined 
on  a  separation  of  the  States  for  their  owu  aggrandi/.emqnf, 


"N, 


-*S^'^, 


^;'<-^'" 


IMinFACK. 


fli 


—.there  H  ore  hi  the  tnid'lle  Statcn  Ofjiially  diincjorotj-f. 
They  nro  (laily  eii;j;;i^c(l  in  prepuriii^  tin*  (miilic  njiinl  lor 
»c'i'/AUu;  ill '  reiii4  or^overtiiiKiit  hy  violcMice,  uiul  expcilini^ 
the  |)iil)lie  riiiiti«»nurioH. 

Wilh  (lie!*e  ^t'litleinen,  it  is  n  fiivorite  idiMi  '"to  Hetul  the 
Presideul  to  Klli.i,"  nnil  niipply  Wm  jihiee  with  (mip  of  tlitir 
oun  IViendA.  and  lliiiHiiuve  tlie  |nM»|)le  the  iieeesxily  (if*  ais- 
otluT  (deelion.  Mr.  IJarent  ((ardeiiier,  of  Ne\v-York,  uimI 
a  few  vioK'nt  men  in  Cohi!;ie.ss,  are  the  most  active  ni'  this 
|))\rty.  All  (heir  talents  and  industry  are  devoted  tn  thi-« 
vile  jinrpose. 

Tliis  (l)l()(»d  and  murder — lanterns  and  gnillotine^  apart) 
— is  a.s  revolnliiMiary,  as  disori^iuiizinj^,  as  jaeohiiiii-aj  u 
projest  as  any  of  those  of  Danlun.  Le^en«lre,  ^ii^rat,  IV'Tkiti, 
or  liobespieri'o,  in  the  early  stages  of  tlie  Frerieli  re>i)!u- 
tion.  Anil,  reader,  *'  laj/  not  the  jlntlerin^  unction  to  your 
s^m/,"  that  we  shall  in  this  event  eseapc  lilooilshed.  ti  m 
as  impossible  that  sueh  a  Ha.'^ifioijs  (jrojiet  shotild  he  earjitd 
into  operation,  williont  lorronts  of  blood  being  shed,  a-illiut 
von  can  tear  auiiv  the  fonndations  on  whieha  niiirhtv  ei!i- 
lice  rests.  Vrithonl  (he  edilice  itself  erumbling  to  rnins;  or 
that  yon  can  reoiive  the  dykes  uliieli  oppose  (lie  progress 
of  a  vast  body  of  wutor,  au\I  not  have  the  adjacent  eonnhy 
overllowed. 

With  Mr.  Oardenier.  i(  is  a  favourile  phrasf,  that,  "//,« 
present  achnihialraiiun  init.st  come  ihiirn.'"  ^'his  is  tolerably 
explicit.  Tt  is  impossible  to  misiake  the  intention  or  the 
mode  of  eft'eeting  it.  The  latter  is  very  simple.  History 
furnishes  uumercMis  exanples.  It  is  the  mode  by  which 
Cromwell  expelled  the  Itnojp  Parliament,  and  seized  the 
reins  of  government  himself.  It  is  the  mode  by  which,  after 
the  Rubicon  was  passed,  Julius  Cfiesar  rose  to  power  on  the 
ruius  oi'the  Commonwealth.  And,  to  come  to  a  later  peri- 
od, it  is  the  mode  whereby  Bonaparte  made  himself  master 
•f  the  destinies  of  France. 

But,  Mr.  Gardenier,  we  are  not  ripe  for  that  project  yet. 
Can  you,  or  general  Wharton,  who  has  given  the  toast — 
"James  Madison,  on  the  island  of  Elba" — can  you,  I  say, 
be  mad  enotigh  to  believe  that  the  Isardy  yeomanry  of  New 
York,  New  Jersey,  or  Pennsylvania,  will  submit  to  allow 
any  band  of  desperadoes  with  impunity  to  tear  the  highest 
yubiic  functionaries  of  the  nation  frum  their  seats — men 


- 1 


i 


4^^^:..'itA.: 


■uSi'"''^  ■ 


MiA^^«— • 


—    •'    . ,  ««».»i,c 


VIII 


I'RKFAcr:. 


chosi'i)  ill  strict  coriruriiii()^   uiili  tliu  terms  of  the  ffoeiiil 


voiniiiw 


•I? 


ii'vu^i  flatter  yoiii'Hi'ir  with  any  Hiich  pleaninu;  (h'liiMiniiM, 
iiMakc,  iitid  nhiki'  iiU'lho  lni^htY  error.  \(v\y  upon  it,  that 
ihdscuho  may  make  the  Hitcrih>^ioii!i  nltcmpt  will,  uilh 
thi'ir  ilcluik'd  toil  i\ver!«,  Hutt'cr  ooiidi;;!!  iiiiiiishment  as  trait* 


orK 


The  lliiilt'd  Siatos  have  Cor  ft  oonsidcrahle  time  past  ex- 
hihitcd  a  Mpi'claldii  of  (he  ino»t  extraordinary  kind,  and 
ulini)<iit  iitii(|iie  ill  the  hinlory  of  the  worhl. 

Our  form  of  i;i.vrrmncnt  has  prohahly  lint  one  material 
dtJ'i'i't.  It  wanis  a  diif  de^r♦'e  ot'eiicr^y,  parliciihirly  pend- 
ing war.  If  it  were  free  fioiu  lhi»i,  it  mi^ht  last  as  lungns 
tlie  liorMaii  ^o\ cniment. 

This  defei't  must  lie  a  sniijeet  of  deep  and  serious  regret 


to  all 


lod  men,  not  merely  our  eotemporaries   or  eonnlry 


men,  Imi  to  tiioAe  in  tiitnre  times  and  (li>«lant  eonntrieti.  who 
may  feel  an  interest  in  the  happines><  of  their  fellow  men. 
]n  pern.sin;^  history,  we  lament  the  errors  «if  onr  aneestors 
— onrs  will  he  a  sniijeet  of  lamentation  to  our  posterity 


'I'aki 


ill''  into  eunsideralion  this  Keiions  defeet  in  the  frame 


of 'itir  !j;overnmeiit,  it  is  the  <lnly  of  all  ^ood  eitizens  to  nji- 
hold  and  support  it.  Unt  all  eoiisidetations  of  duty  apart, 
mere  selfishness  on^ht  to  prompt  all  men  who  liave  any  in- 
terest in  the  wi'Ifare  of  the  eonnlry,  who  have  any  fjiinj^  to 
lose  hy  convulsions,  an<l  tumults,  and  er.nfiision,  and  anar- 
ehy,  to  cliiiiji;  to  and  uphold  the  ejovernnn'iit.  w  herelty  they 
ari'  pittti'tted  in  the  enjoyment  of  all  the  hles«iini;s  «»f  life. 

Hut  it  is  asvfiil  to  relate,  and  is  without  |ireeedent,  that 
a  l)u\<e  pioport'on  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  the  eonimnniiy 
have  liiMMi  as  >iedii!oiis!y  employed  in  teariui^  do\ui  the  pil- 
lars of  (he  t^overnment — in  throMin,^  every  oh  tacle,  and 
dilHcully,  and  emharrassment  in  (he  wav  of  its  administra- 
tors, a*  if  it  were  a  government  equally  tippressive  vnth  that 
of  A^iers  or  Tur'-ey.  or  as  if  they  eonhl  derive  advantage 
from  anarcliy.  Should  they  lie  cursed  with  final  sueeess  in 
their  endeavours,  they  and  their  posterity  will  muurn  flic 
ennse(|ucnces. 

The  national  vessel  is  on  rocks  and  qnirksands,  and  in 
danger  of  shipwreck.  There  is,  moreover,  a  larger  and 
more  formidahle  vessel  preparing  nil  possihie  means  for  her 
destruction.     Yet,   instead  of  etforts  to  ertricate  her,  the 


•^,v' 


jcy- 


:ii.«*i*j>* 


^IM'.lWtili. 


I« 


oi'ow  Are  (liittnicted  by  a  dispiilc  liow  mIic  came  into  tlttit 
itiliialioii.  I'itc  i^rutid  and  oiil^  uliji'ct  with  a  |>art  ot'  iIkmiI) 
in  to  gi;l  tliu  lieliii  in  llieir  own  liaiidM — and  railuT  than  not 
Miiccoed,  the)  are  restolvud  she  uliall  ^o  to  |K>rdilioii.  'lU'in 
iiiirty  Mweam  nil  tlio  daiigei*  and  dillieiilly  arc  ovviti;^  to  tito 
luibucilily  lliu  corniplioii,  ilm  niadiio.ss  or  the  folly  of  tho 
pilotf  whom  they  threaten  "^ivit/i  a  halter^  '  or  to  put  him 
ashore  "on  tlie  hliind  of  JClba.'^  The  olhern  swear  with 
eqiitti  veheuience,  that  the  refractory,  turbulent,  and  factiouH  - 
ipirit  of  the  mutinonst  part  of  the  erew  Iuih  run  the  vesHcl 
n^roiuid.  They  are  au(M)rdin^ly  determined  (o  dciVnd  tho 
pilot.  A  few  individual,  who  Hee  that  both  parlies  had 
coutriliiited  to  produce  this  calamilouM  event, in  vain  hold  out 
*'thp.  OUv(;  livunch^''^  and  implore  them  to  suspend  all  in- 
((iiirieii  ad  to  the  eau!ie  of  danger  till  the  ship  is  ri^lited.  It 
is  in  vain.  While  the  parties  are  mure  ana  more  inilamed 
a^^iitist  each  other,  the  vessel  bulges  on  a  sharp  rock — doivn 
she  i^oes— pilot— and  supporters — and  mutineers — and  * 
peace  makers— all  in  one  common  destruction. 

This,  1  am  fearful,  will  be  our  fate.  It  may  be  prevent- 
ed. All  that  is  necessary  in,  for  a  f'nv  iniluential  .-ulmi  in 
the  dill'erent  ^jtates  to  step  forward — bury  the  hatchet — lay 
aside  all  minor  considerations  while  the  vessel  of  state  is  in 
danger.  This  policy  is  so  obviously  Just,  that  fifty  iiidivid- 
uals  Ihroughont  the  union  setting  the  example,  would  havo  ^ 
sulKcient  etKeacy  to  arouse  the  nation  to  a  sense  of  their 
danger,  and  thus  accomplish  the  blessed  object  of  saving 
their  country. 

Will  the  Clarksons,  the  Ray<t,  the  Lndlows,  the  Ilcm- 
sens,  the  Ogdens,  the  I'earsalls,  the  i^enoxes,  the  Harrisons, 
the  Lawrences,  the  M^Cornucks,of  New-York — the  Will- 
ings,  the  Francises,  the  Norrises,  the  Biddies,  the  Lati- 
mers,  the  Tilghnians,  the  Wains,  the  Kalstons,  i  he  Lewises^ 
of  Philadelphia — the  Gilinors,  the  Olivers,  the  8tcrets, 
the  tiowards,  the  Smiths,  the  Bryces,  the  Grahams,  the 
C'ookes  of  Baltimore — and  other  sucii  estimable  federalists 
throughout  the  Union,  continue  to  regard  with  apathy  tho  * 
dangers  of  their  country,  and  not  make  a  bold  and  decisive 
stand  to  rescue  her  P  l\o.  It  cannot  be  Heaven  hns  not, 
I  hope,  so  far  blotted  us  out  of  its  favorable  remembrance, 
as  to  give  us  up  to  such  a  frightful  destiny.  It  will  at  this 
lalu  hour  interpose  for  our  salvation,  and  dispel  the  horrible 


'^Ki, 


X  PREFACE. 

mists  of  passion  and  prpjiidiee — of  madness  and  folly — 
which  intercept  from  our  view  the  nUyss  that  yawns  bcibre 
us,  ready  to  swallow  us  np  in  remediiess  destrucliou. 

In  England,  the  opposition  to  the  ministry  is  always  vio- 
lent, and,  like  the  opposition  here,  is  loo  generally  directed 
against  all  the  measures  of  government,  whether  meritorious 
or  otherwise,  liut  there  is  in  parlian^'iit  a  substantial 
co?/Jifn/ par///,  which  occasionally  votes  with  the  minister, 
and  occasionally  with  the  oppositioti — supporfii»g or  oppos- 
ing measures  as  conscience  dictates. 

It  is  a  most  unfortntiale  fact,  tluit  in  Congress  the  numher 
of  members  of  this  description  is  very  small.  That  body 
may  he  t^enerally  classed  'uto  federalists  and  democrats, 
who  too  frequenily  vote  in  solid  columns.  There  are,  I 
grunt,  laudable  exceptions.     But  they  are  too  rare. 

This  is  one  of  the  worst  features  in  the  situation  of  the 
country.  The  indiscriminate  adherence  to  party,  and  uni- 
form support  of  party  arrangements,  encourage  the  leaders 
to  proceed  to  extremities.,  and  to  adopt  violent  and  perni- 
cious measures,  which  the  good  sense  of  their  followers  may 
reprobate  hut  from  which  they  have  not  fortitude  enough 
to  irilhhnld  their  support.  This  has  been  in  all  countries 
the  most  frightful  of  the  consequences  of  the  unholy  and 
deleterious  spirit  of  faction.  Men,  originally  of  the  purest 
hearts  and  best  intentions,  are,  by  this  ignis  fatuus,  grad- 
ually corrupted;  and  led,  step  by  step^  to  unite  in  acts  at 
whieh,  they  would  at  tlie  cnninieneement  of  their  career, 
have  recoiled  with  horror  and  ajj'right.  J  believe  it  is  a 
sound  political  maxim,  that  a  thoroughgoing  party-man  ne- 
ver  was  a  perfectly  honest  politician  ;  for  there  hardly  ever 
yet  Mtvsa  party  free  from  errors  and  crimes,  more  or  lest 
gross,  in  exact  proportion  to  the  folly  or  the  \>ickedne8s  of 
its  leaders. 

The  Jews,  when  besieged  by  Titus,  within  the  walls  of 
Ihcir  metropolis,  availed  themselves  of  the  cessati<»n  of  hos- 
tile attacks  on  the  part  «>f  their  external  enemies,  to  glut 
iheir  vengeance,  and  malice,  and  factious  spirit,  by  butch- 
criug  each  other — and  thus  both  parties  became  an  easy 
prey  to  the  invaders.  To  this  deplorable  pitch  of  madness 
ive  have  not  yet  arrived.  But  that  we  have  hitherto  escaped 
this  calamiiv.  is  not  for  want  of  industry  on  the  part  of 
some  persons  who  are  unceasingly  employed  as  inecndiariesr 


a'.^-J&^k  l.:\. 


k-C  .J- »—>»■■ 


PREl'ACE. 


ax 


in  Mowing  up  the  flaniL's  of  discord,  and  preparing  us  iop 
simiiur  L^t'ones  i'lie  cn(»l,  and  eulin,  and  tcmpenitu  part  of 
the  cominnnitv  appear  torpid  and  languid,  and  take  no  ste(i8 
to  avert  the  awful  'catastrophe.  Let  them  awake  from  their 
slumbers  s')i)n  ;  or  at  no  dit^tant  day,  the  evil  may  be  reme- 
diless, and  they  will  in  vain  mourn  over  their  folly. 

I  believe  Mr.  Madisou  pi'rfectly  upright;  that  his  ad- 
ministration of  Hie  government  has  been  conducted  with  as 
pure  iulentions,  as  ever  actuated  a  first  magistrale  of  any 
country;  and  thai  lord  Ciiatham  or  the  great  !:)ully  would 
have  found  it  a  very  arduous  task  to  manage  the  helm  under 
the  dilliuulties,  external  and  internal,  that  he  has  had  to 
contend  with  But  if  it  were  a  question  that  related  wholly 
lo  Mr  Madisou  or  his  administration,  I  should  never  have 
trespassed  on  the  public.  Were  Mr.  Madison  as  patriotic 
as  Curtlus,  or  the  Docii,  who  grace  the  Uomau  story — and 
as  immaculate  as  an  archangel — nay,  were  all  the  heroes 
antl  statesmen  of  the  revolution  restored  to  life,  and  entrust* 
ed  with  <he  administration — 1  sliouid  consider  their  honour, 
their  intori'sts,  their  happiu'^ss,  or  their  safety,  as  dust  in 
the  l.'alance  compared  with  the  salvation  of  eight  millions  of 
people. 

It  is  diAicuIt  to  conceive  an  object  more  worthy  of  the 
eftorts  of  aTi  ardeut  mind.  A  review  of  history  will  e<m- 
vince  any  reasonable  or  candid  person,  that  there  never  was, 
and  indubitably  there  is  not  at  present  a  more  interesting 
porti(»M  of  the  human  species,  than  the  inhabitants  of  the 
United  Slates.  There  never  was  a  nation  in  whicli  ail  the 
the  solid  blessings  and  comforts  of  life  were  more  fully  en- 
joyed tlu  n  they  are  here,  and  where  they  were  secured  by 
such  slender  sacrifices.  1  am  not  so  blind  an  admirer  of 
the  nation  as  not  to  see  that  it  has  defects.  There  never 
was  a  nation  or  individual  free  from  them.  But  take  all 
the  leading  points  that  give  assurance  of  happiness.  a)id 
afford  the  necessary  indieatiops  of  respectability — and  al  no 
period  can  there  be  found  a  nation  standing  on  more  elevat- 
ed ground. 

The  former  points  of  difference  hotwcen  the  federalists 
and  democrats  have  lost  nearly  all  their  consequence.  'J'hey 
are  merged  in  objects  of  incomparable  higher  moment. 
Evils  of  incalculable  mas^n  tudc  menace  us.  A  powe»ful 
enemy,  flushed  with  succcsii,  and  with  superabundant  means 


.^ia^ 


*^>* 


xfl 


TREIACE. 


>l 


I     ■!  \ 

\ 

( 


of  annoyance,  hovers  on  our  coasts,  and  by  his  formidable 
navy,  is  enabled  to  inHict  on  us  deep  and  lasiinj;  injury. 
Ami  what  is  pregnant  with  more  terror  by  far,  instead  of 
aiding  to  extricate  ns  from  this  perilous  situation,  tbe  op- 
portunity of  a  season  of  ditiieulty  and  danger  is  seized  on  to 
dis^solve  tile  union,  to  raise  up  hostile  and  jaring  confeder- 
acies, to  destroy  the  hopes  mankind  have  formed  of  our 
nobie  governmental  experinient. 

To  coiilimie  disputing  about  the  minor  points  that  have 
divided  ihe  parties  heretofore,  would  be  madness  How 
superlative  would  be  the  folly  and  absurdity  of  two  men, 
fighting  about  the  interior  decorations  and  arrangements  of 
an  ediiice,  and  regardless  of  the  operations  of  two  others, 
one  of  whom  was  undermining  and  preparing  to  blow  it  up 
in  the  air,  and  the  other  providing  a  torch  to  set  it  on  tire  ? 
A  strait  jacket  would  be  too  slender  a  restraint  for  them. 
Such  IS  the  folly  and  madness  of  those  democrats  and  fed- 
eralists, wli!)  continue  their  warfare  about  the  mode  of  ad- 
ministering tile  constitution,  or  the  persons  by  whom  it  shall 
be  administered,  at  a  time  when  the  constitution  itself  is  in 
danger  ofbeing  destroyed  root  and  branch.  V, 


The  plan  of  this  work  may  require  some  short  explana- 
tion. 1  believe  the  country  to  be  in  imminent  danger  of  a 
convulsion,  whereof  the  human  mind  cannot  calculate  the 
consequences.  The  nation  is  divided  into  two  hostile  par- 
lies, whose  animosity  towards  each  other  is  daily  increased 
by  inflammatorv  publications.  Kach  charges  the  other  with 
the  guilt  of  having  produced  the  present  alarming  state  of 
aifiiirs.  In  private  lifw.  when  two  individuals  quarrel,  and 
each  believes  the  other  wholly  wrong,  a  reconciliation  is 
hardly  practicable.  But  whea  tlM'v  can  be  convinced  that 
the  errors  are  mutual — as  is  almost  universally  the  case — 


PREFACE. 


xiii 


iliey  open  their  ears  to  the  voice  of  reason,  ami  are  willing 
to  meet  each  other  half  way.  A  maxim,  soiiiul  in  private 
afl'airs,  is  •  I'ly  unsound  in  public  life.  AVIiile  a  violent 
federaiiBi  Sieves  all  the  evils  of  the  present  state  of  tliingg 
have  arijciii  from  the  guilt  of  the  administration,  nothing 
less  will  satisfy  him  th^n  hurling  Mr.  Madison  from  thu 
seat  of  government,  and  sending  him  to  Elba.  While,  on 
the  other  hand,  a  violent  democrat  persuades  himself  that 
all  our  evils  hare  arisen  from  the  dilticulties  and  embarrass- 
ments constantly  and  steadily  thrown  in  the  way  of  the  ad- 
ministration by  the  federalists,  he  is  utterly  averse  to  any 
compromise.  Each  looks  down  upon  the  other  with  scorn 
and  hatred,  as  the  Pharisee  in  the  gospel  upon  the  Publi- 
can. I  have  endeavoured  to  prove,  and  I  believe  1  have 
fully  proved,  that  each  party  has  a  heavy  debt  of  error,  aiid 
folly,  and  guilt,  to  answer  for  to  their  injured  country,  and 
to  posterity — and.  as  I  have  stated  in  the  body  of  this  work, 
that  mutual  forgiveness  is  no  more  than  an  aot  of  Justice — 
and  can  lay  no  claim  to  the  character  of  liberality  on  either 
side. 

But  even  supposing  for  a  moment — what  probably  hardly 
ever  occured,  since  the  world  was  formed — that  the  error 
is  all  on  one  side,  is  it  less  insane  for  the  other  to  increase 
the  difHculty  of  extrication — to  refuse  its  aid — to  embarrass 
those  who  have  the  management  of  our  atfairs  ?  My  house 
is  on  fire.  Instead  of  calling  for  aid — or  providing  fire- 
engines — or  endeavouring  to  smother  the  flames — I  institute 
an  inquiry  Iiou  it  took  fire — whether  by  aecident  or  design 
—and  if  by  design,  who  was  the  incendiary;  and  f«irlher 
undertake  to  punish  him  for  his  wickedness!  a  most  wigo 
and  wonderful  procedure — and  just  on  a  level  with  the  wis- 
dom, and  patriotism,  and  public  spirit  of  those  sapient 
members  of  Congress,  who  spend  days  in  making  long 
speeches,  every  idea  whereof  has  been  a  hundred,  perhaps 
a  thousand  times  repeated  in  the  newspapers,  upon  the 
causes  of  the  war,  and  the  errors  of  its  management,  instead 
of  meeting  the  pressing  and  imperious  necessity  of  the 
emergency. 


8 


V 


i\ 


I  f! 


"ft  / 


XIV 


PREFACE.    . 


I  claim  but  one  merit  in  this  protltictioii,  ami  that  is  by 
no  means  inconsiderable.  It  is,  that  with  u  perfect  knowl- 
edge oF  the  furious,  remorseless,  never-d^ing,  and  cut-throat 
hostility,  with  which  Faction  in  all  ages^  has  persecuted 
those  who  have  dared  oppose  her — and  perfectly  satisfied, 
that  with  us  she  is  as  implacable,  as  malignant,  and  as  in- 
exorable a  monster  as  she  has  ever  been,  I  have  dared,  nev- 
ertheles!-;,  to  stale  the  truth,  regardless  of  the  consequences. 
1  was,  it  is  true,  considerably  reluctant-  I  should  have 
preferred  by  far,  for  the  remainder  of  my  life,  steering  clear 
of  the  quick-sands  of  politics.  None  of  the  (picstions  that 
have  heretofore  divided  parlies  iti  this  country  could  have 
induced  me  to  venture  upon  the  tempestuous  ocean.  But  at 
u  crisis  like  the  present,  neutrality  would  be  guilt.  The 
qiiestion  now  is  between  the  friends  of  social  or<ler,  and 
jacobins,  who  are  endeavouring  to  destroy  the  whole  fabric 
of  government,  with  the  slender  chance  of  building  it  up 
again — between  peace  and  harmony  on  one  side,  and  civil 
war  and  anarchy  on  the  other.  A  lamentable  delusion  pre- 
vails. The  community  shut  their  eyes  against  the  truth  on 
the  subject.  But  this  is  the  real  state  of  the  case,  or  1  am 
as  grossly  deceived  as  ever  was  human  being.  And  unless 
some  of  our  influential  men  exert  themselves  to  allay  the 
storm,  a  few  short  months  will  exchange  doubt  into  awful 
and  dreadful  certainty. 

While  I  was  deliberating  about  the  sacrifice  which  such 
a  publication  as  this  requires^  one  serious  and  aflecting  con- 
sideration removed  my  doubts,  and  decided  my  conduct. 
Seeing  thousands  of  the  flower  of  our  population — to  whom 
the  spring  of  life  just  opens  w  ith  all  its  joys,  and  pleasures, 
and  enchantments — prepared  in  the  tented  field  to  risk,  and 
if  necessary,  sacrifice  their  lives,  for  their  country's  wel- 
fare ;  I  thought  it  would  be  baseness  in  me,  whose  sun 
has  long  passed  the  meridian,  and  on  whom  the  attractions 
of  life  have  ceased  to  operate  with  their  early  ^iscinations, 
to  have  declined  any  risk  that  might  arise  from  the  effort 
to  ward  off  the  parricidal  stroke  aimed  at  a  country  to 
which  I  owe  such  heavy  obligations.  With  this  view  of 
the  subject  I  could  not  decide  otherwise  than  I  have  done. 

On  the  execution  of  the  work  it  behoves  me  to  offer  a 
few  remarks.  1  know  it  is  very  considerably  imperfect. 
It  is  hardly  possible  to  prepare  any  book  under  greater  dis- 
advantages than  have  attended  the  Olive  Branch.    A  large 


PRE  FACE. 


XV 


portion  of  it  is,  therefore,  crude,  and  indigested  and  witlioiit. 
<»rder.  Were  it  a  treatise  on  morals,  religion,  history,  or 
science,  which  could  not  sutler  by  the  delay  necrssary  to 
mature  and  methodize  it,  1  should  be  unpardonable,  and  de- 
serve the  severest  castigation  of  criticism^  for  presenting  it 
to  the  public  in  this  unfinished  state.  But  the  exigencies 
of  the  times  are  so  pressing,  that  were  it  delayed  till  I 
could  digest  it  properly,  it  might  be  wholly  out  of  season. 

It  would  be  unjust  were  I  not  to  aeknowledg';  the  numer- 
ous and  weighty  obligations  1  owe  to  the  *  Weekly  Uogisler,' 
edited  by  H  Niles,  the  best  periodical  work  ever  publislied 
in  America,  from  which  1  have  drawn  a  large  portion  of 
the  facts  and  documenis  which  1  haveenijiloyed.  1  venture 
to  assert  that  no  American  library  can  be  complete  without 
this  publication. 


I  have  carefully  studied  to  be  correct  in  point  of  fact  and 
argument.  But  the  cireumstancps  under  which  1  have 
written,  render  it  probable  that  1  may  have  fallen  into  errors. 
1  shall  therefore  regard  it  as  a  most  particular  favour,  if 
any  gentleman  who  discovers  them,  however  minute,  they 
may  be,  will  frankly  point  them  out,  and  they  shall  be  most 
cheerfully  corrected  If  of  sulficient  importance,  I  shall 
make  a  public  acknowledgenient  in  the  newspapers.  If  the 
cause  I  espouse  cannot  be  supported  by  truth,  candour,  and 
fair  argument,  may  it  perish,  never  to  lind  another  advocate  1 

Philadelphia^  t/Vbi*.  s,  18 1 3-. 


(^ 


PREFACE 


TQ  THE  SECOjS^n  EDITIOX. 


« 


Philadelphia,  January  4, 1815. 

The  unequivocal  and  decided  approbation  with  which 
(he  former  edition  of  this  work  has  been  favoured,  by  re- 
spectable men  of  both  the  hostile  parties  that  divide  this 
country,  1  regard  as  amona;  the  most  grateful  circumstances 
of  my  life.  Its  numerous  defects — its  want  of  method — and 
the  great  imperfection  of  its  style  and  manner — were,  I  pre- 
sume, regarded  as  atoned  for  by  its  obvious  and  undeniable 
object — the  object  of  contributing  my  feeble  efforts  towards 
allaying  the  eft'ervescence,  the  turbulence,  the  animosity 
that  pervade  the  community,  and  are  pregnant  with  sueh 
alarming  consequences. 

Of  the  time  that  has  elapsed  since  its  first  appearance,  I 
have  availed  myself,  to  amplify — to  methodise — and  to  im- 
prove it.  And  although  1  am  very  far  indeed  frompresum- 
iiii^  it  to  be  perfect,  yet  I  hope  it  will  be  found  more  entitled 
to  pitronage  than  it  was  in  its  original  dishabille. 

It  embraces  a  very  convulsed  period  of  our  history;  and 
has  been  written  under  no  common  disadvantages.  I  have 
laboured  under  a  great  deficiency  of  various  materials  and 
documents,  wbich  no  exertions  have  enabled  me  to  procure 
—  and  it  has  been  begun,  carried  on,  and  completed  in  mo- 
ments constantly  subject  to  those  interruptions  inevitable  in 
the  |>ressure  of  business.  'Vu  suppose,  then,  it  were  perfect, 
would  arijue  a  degree  of  insanity  which  the  fondest  and 


PKlil'AGE. 


XVII 


most  (lotiiii;  doliriiitn  t»f  piifpniul  vanity  could  hardly  palli- 
ate. It  wdtilil  be  a  case  unparalleled  in  the  annals  oflitcr- 
aliire.  Tlie  world  lias  had  niiniiMnns  instancws  of  m»Mi  ol' 
most  iiplendi'il  talents  —of  laborious  researi'h — aith  abun- 
dant inateriiils  and  documents — enjoying  full  leisure  to  do 
justice  to  their  subjects — and  ein|>U)yin;L;  years  for  the  pur- 
pose— yet  falliu!^  intu  e^res»i»)us  errors.  It  could  not  then 
be  expected  thiit  a  work  embracing  such  a  variety  of  objects, 
ftud  writteti  under  t!»e  very  disadvantageous  circumstances  1 
have  stated,  shouhl  be  free  frosn  them.  Hut  the  reader  may 
rest  assured  that  whatever  Ihev  mav  he,  they  have  not  re- 
suited  from  design.  They  are  the  olVspriuti;  ot  slenderness 
of  talents  — deticieney  of  materials— inadvertence-"t»r  that 
bias  to  which  all  men  arc  sul)ject.  in  a  greater  or  K'ss  de- 
cree, when  treating  on  suljjecls  wherein  they  feel  deeply  in- 
terested. Of  the  latter,  however,  I  have  laboured  to  divest 
myself. 

Had  I  written  vvilh  any  vic'w  to  liferary  reputation,  t]:e 
work  would  have  made  a  totally  diiler'nt  appearance.  In- 
stead (»f  pi'esenfin^  the  reader  wiili  so  many  documents  vor- 
biitim,  1  should,  as  is  usual  have  sjiven  aiiMiaets  of  them  in 
my  own  words— -a>id  thus  formed  a  re;:^ular,  c.»nnected  nar- 
r:»tive  of  events,  i'ar  more  a^ijreeable  to  read,  than  ibe  \>«nk 
in  i?s  present  form,  and  rather  easier  to  write.  i'he  reader 
may  rest  assured,  that  I  have  written  tiiree  pages  in  less 
time  than  I  employed  in  search  for  a  single  document,  w  hicli 
does  not  occujjy  one,  and  thereof  J  knew  eii()Ui;;h  to  i^ive  an 
analysis  of  it.  And  lonsr.  laborious  searches  for  document 
or  newspaper  par;ii;raphs.  or  essays,  have  not  uniVeqiiejitly 
b.'en  w'iiolly  in  vain. 

Btit  though  a  thirst  for  literary  reputation  is  far  from  il- 
l;vu.!al)le— and  though  it  insj)ires  to  great  exertions,  and  has 
b'en  l!ie  honoured  parent  of  some  of  the  m<ist  stupendous 
etfitrts  of  the  hum.m  mind--it  has  not  had  the  slightest  in- 
fluenee  on  me  in  this  case.  It  would  he  utterly  unavailing 
to  coiititeract  the  loathing,  the  abhorrence  I  felt  for  enter- 
ing into  political  discussion,  or  for  making  myself  once  more 
an  object  of  nt:w's paper  assault,  of  w  hich  few  men  in  private 
liJV  !?;ive  been  honoured  with  a  greater  share. 

Xo.  I  appeal  to  heaven  for  the  truth  of  what  T  now  de- 
clare. I  soared  to  higher  objects,  far  beyond  stjclunarrow 
views.  I  believed — I  still  believe— that  a  dissolution  of  the 
uaion  is  cunteijiplated  by  a  few  ambitious  and  wicked  men^ 


'.  '  i: 


I 


NVlll 


piuaAct:. 


that  in  ihft  stale  ot*(rxeitement  to  wliich  the  public  mind  is 
raised,  snid  which  is  hoiirly  iiicroasiiig  hy  the  iiiohI  profligate 
disroQinrd  of  truth  and  oJ' Um*  welfare  of  the  country—and 
by  tl>L'  utmost  prostilnliosj  of  talents,  a  mere  triile  would 
sullu'c  to  produce  a  C(»nviilsion — (as,  when  you  have  collect- 
ed loi^elher  a  qiianhly  of  highly  combustible  materials,  a 
Rinii;ie  spark  suiVices  to  pro'ltiee  a  counti^ration,) — that  a 
dissoiiiiinn  of  the  u\iiuii  will  iiif';illibiy  produce  a  civil  war; 
that  in  the  event  of  a  civil  war,  there  ^ill  bo  a  slruc^j^lc 
throiit^hont  tiie  eounlry  \'nr  the  ascendancy,  wherein  will  be 
])Otpelratvd  alioclties  similar  to  those  which  disgraced  the 
rj\'nc!»  revolution  :  that  even  if  we  should  be  so  fortunate 
as  lo  escape  a  civil  war.  or,  (if  we  should  nol)  after  its  ter- 
mination, and  the  establishment  of  separate  confcdi  raeies, 
{he  ennntrv  will  be  cursed  with  a  constant  border  war, 
ibnu'tited  by  the  nalwnis  of  l<)urope,  to  wh(»m  wc  shall  be  a 
s|)()rt  and  a  prey  :  ajul  that,  in  one  word,  a  nation  most  highly 
fuv.inrcdby  heaven,  is  on  the  very  versje  of  perdition. 

These  views  may  1)8  erroneous.  They  difter  from  those 
cf  mr)sl  of  my  friends  The  mass  of  the  community,  more- 
over, do  not  accord  with  them.  But  they  are  unalterably 
impressed  upon  my  mind.  1  cannot  shake  them  off.  They 
are  all  supported  by  the  instructive,  but  neglected  voice  of* 
Iiistory.  I  possess  not  the  happy  faculty  with  wliich  so 
muny  are  endowed.  1  cannot  believe  an  event  will  not  take 
place,  because  I  hope  an<l  pray  it  may  not.  I  am  disposed 
to  envy  those  who  are  thus  gifted.  It  diminishes  the  hours 
of  suffering.  In  a  life  so  chequered  as  ours,  this  is  some 
advantage.  But  it  has,  like  all  other  blessings,  a  counter- 
poising evil.  When  we  disbelieve  in  the  approach  of  dan- 
ger, we  make  no  prep;\rations  to  repel  it. 

With  these  impressions  I  preferred  risquing  any  conse- 
quences, however  pernicious  to  myself,  that  might  arise 
i'roin  the  present  aildress,  to  a  state  of  torpor  and  inactivity 
— to  perishing  without  an  effort.  In  a  sanguine  moment,  I 
indulged  the  flattering,  the  fond,  (pray  heaven  it  may  not 
be,  the  delusive)  hope  that  my  efforts  might  he  so  far  crown- 
ed with  success,  as  to  make  me  the  blessed,  the  happy  in- 
strument of  arousing  even  one,  two,  or  three  influential 
active  citizens  from  the  morbid,  the  lethargic  slumber,  into 
which  the  commnnity  has  been  so  fatally  lulled ;  that  these 
might  arouse  others ;  and  that  thus  the  potent  spells  might 
be  dissolved,  which,  in  a  manner  unexampled  in  the  history 


',y 


PREFACn. 


XIX 


of  the  worltl,  make  lis  regard  with  stupid,  torpid  npafliy  and 
indirterpiicc,  the  actual  buiikruplcy  ot  our  t^overnmcnl  (pro- 
duced by  a  mont  daring  conspiraev) — the  iinpendini; 
destruction  of  our  glorious  (yOUKtifution,  ihe  work  of  Wanh- 
in^ton,  Franklin,  Liviiii;:4toti,  Hamilton,  Jay,  &c.  the  depre- 
ciation of  <!very  species  of  property — and  tlw  approaehini; 
ruin  of  our  country.  Should  heaven  ihiis  hless  me,  die 
afterwards  when  1  may,  1  shall  not  have  lived  in  vain. 
Hhould  I  fail,  on  my  tombstone  shall  be  graven,  *•  maj^'nia 
excidit  ausis.^'  M.  C. 

P.  9.  I  take  tliis  opportunity  of  6t;\llpp;  tlic  neglect  my  applications 
for  public  (IrxnmtMits  hikI  pap<T8  of  v:iiioMs  kiiuls  have  expeiii'iic<;il  at 
WashiiiKtoii  and  elsiwliere  Some  of  tlio  ijctilK'oitij  (if  s;tc!i  cnidlnct 
<)()  not  b«i'  tlie  titlu,  to  wlioin  1  applicil,  have  not  coikIiscoii  r<l  to  nn- 
S'.viM-  mv  leltei's  Anil  of  llic  whole  at  \Vi'.Bliinf:lo;i  not  nuo  foi-nisl.O(! 
mcvvilli  «  single  cotnintiiiipiiioii,  oxci  pt  hf  r.CvOi'U'-y  jii;fn'iMl,  Wirli'iid 
Kiish,  K^(|  from  whom  I  rcct  ived  valuable  tulik'j  of  cxpnit",,  to  fill  op 
till"  chasm  in  my  fornur  edition — and  likovvl.'e  >^^oinc  of  tlio  jouriiils  of 
(jonfiress.  Kor  these  I  leml-r  my  tlnriks  Mad  ofh'-r  irrntlcintn  hevn 
tfjually  atlpiitivo,  the  woi  k  would  have  1)<(  n  r'm.sidirahly  improved. 
To  ih  valuahie  lollerlion  of  pamphlets  in  ilio  posscKsion  of  Mr  ))u- 
j)oncfau,  I  linve  hail  access  And  a  f»entloiiiaii  ia  Hosion  fin  nif.liid  ruu 
with  a  niintbiT  of  very  imiJOitant  cxti-acls.  rrom  llie  {inr.i'.ti'  and.  Sen- 
tinel, published  tlifie.  Ext  ept  in  these  three  inslnnccB,  I  have  lucn 
iilmovt  as  utterly  unaided  as  if  I  I'.ved  on  liobins  n  (husoe's  island,  or 
vver  •  inve:>tij;  "ting  the  gei'.ealogy  of  the  (iriind  Laina — or  llie  wars  of 
the  'I'itaiis  againsi  .Jupilir.  Sutli  is  llie  wreU'hed  apathy  t\;r  pri  viills 
respecting  nur  public  alTiiifs  ! 


M 


FKtrALL. 


\ 


Extract  f I om  (ioi'ervor  Sirorifr' 3  speech,  XTthJunuury,  180(). 
0^  ('li.ii^rH  III  llic  cniiHlitutioii  oi'  guveriiiiii-ni  ire  hioh-  MJiirioiis 
tliait  in  till'  NVNicin  of  lawn  :  ij*  even  n  smuU  innoval ion  may  desiroi/  Us 
piincifilvs.  'i'lii-  hdiH)  I -s  of  the  coiimIUuIioii  hud  brfoie  tltt-iH  not  only 
the  >oiin;4  >v|iirh  liiid  btsii  |)i'cferr('(l  by  the  Meveral  8luh'H  -,  hut  those 
also,  which  bi  fore  thiit  lime,  had  bi-eii  devised  in  other  n%e%  miiU 
n.itiooH  And  llxiiiifh  the  repealed  e)«|)erimeht!i  which  huve  since 
|ai<oii  |>lace  in  luirope,  may  sn;;({*'^t  mailer  for  wuriiiii){,  they  uflbrd 
noihini;  for  iiiiitalioii  If,  iioIm  ithMlundiiiir,  it  m  found  byexpeii- 
eiice,  Ihal  the  conHliliilioii  o|»eraleH  very  iiiitqoally,  or  the  coiixlrtic- 
(ioii  «<f  any  pui  t  is  donhlfiil,  aincudmenis  may  he  neceSAui  y  lo  alter 
or  I  X.  lain  it  ^(Jr  Ihtl  it  i.i  in  vain  to  expect  tftut  all  will  be  salinjicd— 
Vrre  ivverHiiienlH  ailmil  of  an  eiidlevB  v.niety  of  inodiKi  alioiiM  ;  and 
tlu  '.i|Mhioiis  enti'itaiiK'd  of  their  rcn|ier(ive  mi'riU  are  equally  vu- 
rioiij.  VVIicii  tliecoiibtiliition  Mii8csiabli»hed,  pcrhi|<Nno  man  tliut 
bccMfiir  snlijj'fi  to  it  was  perfeclly  pleased  with  every  part  ij.j  It 
irii.s  tlie.  re.iull  of  »mhnil  concession  :  and  such,  indeed,  iiiusl  always  be 
tile  raite,  when  a  foi  iii  of  government  is  volunlariiy  ucceplcd  by  a 
eoiiiniiiiiity 

"  ^J^  l^  '^'fi  minds  of  some  men,  there  teems  to  be  n  loresllessnesSy  n-htch 
renders  them  disiatisjied  with  any  uniform  course  of  thivf;^,  and  ^j'  mukes 
them  euiier  in  the  pursuit  of  novelty,  i^./^"  '^^ey  abound  in  projects,  and 
Q^  arc  ei\'r  iinditatinp  some  fitnciful  change  in  the  plan  of  ^orernvieuty 
which  their  ima<>i'Milions  represent  as  useful  X]/'  Hitmen  of  great  am- 
hit  ion  are  stilt  more  dnn^rfitous  ;  'f  thiy  commonly  mahe  the  Jairest  pre- 
icvcpsto  principlesy  '^y  Ihouiih  they  are  actuated  only  by  self  interest.— • 
If  the  constll  lit  ion  or  laws  of  their  country  present  obstacles  to  the  accom- 
plishmenl  of  fhtir  ivithes,  X!j*  they  employ  every  arlijice  to  alter  or  aholi.sh 
(hem  ;  and  .  j"  if  individuals  oppose  their  attempts,  they  are  equally  aitjul 
and  solicitous  to  destroy  their  influence  and  render  them  odious  to  their  feL- 
low  citizt'rs. 

**  ^r"  Few  men,  even  in  a  prosperons  cnmmnnity,  nre  fully  satisfied 
with  llieir  condition.  *  /"  A  uresit  part  are  easily  iiiiludd  to  believe, 
thai  there  is  something;  wroiitf  in  the  government  or  laws,  which 
nii^hl  hercclifu'd  to  their  advantage  XT  flj^'y  therefore  readily 
emlir.TC  any  spec  ions  proposal  loeH'ect  an  alteration  f;^  The  crajl^ 
and  ambitiouf  know  hnw  to  avail  themselves  of  this  disposition  to  change, 
and  ;  y  Mi(otira<je  /heir followers  to  ex/iect  that  the  amendments  they  pro- 
pose will  pe'ftdly  suit  their  c««*,  and  produce  the  rrry  blessings  they  wish  ' 
ioiliis  way  they  not  only  efiVcl  their  irnmeili  ne  ohjtct,  hnl  acquire 
an  influence  which  enables  them  afterwards  lo  accomplish  ihi-  most 
disnstrons  innovations  Such  persons  Q^  eticonrage  hopes  that  can 
never  be  realized,  and  excite  complaints  which  (^  the  inoi<t  wise  and 
benevolent  admini'^tration  is  nnaltle  to  remove. 

"  Onr  forms  of  government  are  <loni>tlcs8  like  all  other  human  in- 
stiiuiions,  imperfect  ;  but  ^j*  they  will  insure  the  hlessiiii:s  of 
freedom  to  the  citizens,  and  preserve  their  traii(|nitity,  as  long  as 
they  are  virtuous  ;  and  (Q^  "'>  rnnstitulion  that  has  been  or  can  be 
formed  wiSI  secure  those  blessing  lo  u  depraved  and  vicious  people," 


:,3i»i»/.rf--'/  &ia|^ifc^?^35Sw«  ji..-«»'...>^.  ■■ 


-,.^ .. .- ...  w_  .._,>- — 


NXi 


PUtlACL. 


Extract  from  the  antwer  of  the  Jtasaachuielln  Senate  to  the  (Jtvev-- 
Hor'a  Sf>  ech  of  \7th  Januuri/,  1800 

"  ij'W*'  sliall  look  wiili  »  still  more  i-uutioiia  tye  n|ioii  cvirv  iiino. 
vatioii  itttemptcd  lo  be-  made  U|>oii  our  iiationul  « oiislitittiini.  'Ilic  iti. 
tcKi'itj,  experiviice,  and  extensive  iiit'oriualion  dliitovLred  by  tlie  illiu. 
trioiiM  uliaructer.s  who  Iruoied  that  valiiuble  tiutrument  and  tlu-  Moricb 
ofimhlic  [irospciity  enjoyed  under  it,inlitle  it  to  our  iiigliest  veneration; 
its  cxcellttiicc  apiiuas  witli  still  greater  lustre,  when  coniiiured  willi  the 
ephemeral  constitutions  of  many  nationH  uliicli  have  flitlLd  acroHH  tlm 
oye  in  rapid  tuccessiun,  anx  then  Runk  into  tot«l  obliviou.  We  are  not 
iiisunsibli',  tliut  our  tonn  of  government  must  be  iinperleet,  as  was  iho 
iiMtiirc  of  its  authors:  but  we  recollccl,  at  the  same  time,  that  :  /' (mtf 
f)rof)n^ctl  alteration  under  the  name  of  amendment  it  liable  to  the  same 
im[ii'rfcvtion. 

"  IJulievMin;  therefore  tliat   ;"?'  the  /)rincit}lca   of  the  constitution  are 

na  tvoU  adjusted  ax  human  infirmity  tviU  permit,  and  that  J_/" «  small 

iiiHitvation  may  essentially  po'vert  its  oriq-inut  t'lntlncy    we  shall  exert 

ourselves  to  preserve  lim  its  ()r  sent  form,  ex.epi  in  cases    wlicre  its 

[operaliou  shuU  bu  found  extremely  uuecjual  and  oppressive." 


#> 


I  olFer  (hcsp  t;i-c:\t  and  solrmn  tiutlia  lo  the  ronsidciat ion  of  ull 
who  have  au  intfieui  in  the  welf<ire  of  tlieir  countiy. 

I.  vi  lipparatim  uftfie  ^tat's  cannot  he  effected  ivithmit  an 
\im'nt"liate   CIVIL,   and  an  almost   continual    BOKDI'^-i 

W\i{;  and   it  must  ineuiatahli/  place  us  at  the  mercy  of 
\Eii_:>;lanl^  and  make  tliis  Country  the  sport  of  the  European 
Fotcers  at  all  future  times. 

II.  \«  well  mii^ht  we  expect  to  re-iiiiite,  wilhoiit  flaw, 
|tlie  tViimntMits  of  an  elfijiiiit  porcelain  vase,  shattered  to 
[pieces,  as  to  restore  the  Union,  il' dissolved  hntiorone  honr. 

UI.  A  period  of  war,  and  invasion,  and  danger,  is  utterly 
imlit  for  repairing  or  aniendinj^  a  Constitution.  Nothing 
but  convulsion  ean  arise  out  of  the  attempt. 

IV.  General  Washin^^ton,  in  his  last  legacy,  one  of  the 
noblest  eftorls  of  hinnan  wisdom,  impressively  urged  his 
coiitilryinen  to  fiown  indignantly  upon  any  attemi»t  to  ini- 
piiir  or  dissolve  the  Union 

^ .  To  hostile  European  Powers,  a  dissolution  would  be 
of  iiuinense  aitd  incalculable  advantage. 

VI.  It  would  he  inexpressible  folly  and  madtiess  to  reject 
the  policy  dictated  by  Washington,  and  follow  that  which 


HjAJMiMMtu 


III* I  m^mm^limi 


*ll*»-*»»^<*^-»*iu*^   '^-^X.J 


■M'M 


Mil 


IMiF.I'Ai  I .. 


I 


would  lie  (liodttt'd  hy  (huso  rowers  of  Kiiru|)o   who  regurd 
our  |)ro<4pu<'it)  widi, jealousy. 

Two  mcnHiiK'fl  n'i|uxt fully  nubiuilU-d  for   removing  tli«  existing 
fl.lliglTS  UllU  (liiiitullitH.  .  ' 

I.  To  introduce  two  re«pectal»le  federaliHts,  of  ooininimd-, 
iiiti;  lalciit>4  nnd  inlhienee,  and  of  deeided  attacluiienl  to  tlii'i 
Union,  into  the  adniinislrution,  umoni;  the  lieud»  of  de|iarl-j 
ments.  ^  ! 

II.  To   form    Union    Sociotien    throiii^hnut   the    nation,! 
xvhoHc  sole  olijcct  shall  be  to  guard  against  a  seimration  ol' 
fhe  Stales. 

PLAN  OF  AN  UNION  SOCIETY, 

Siicfi  na  is  contemplated  nhove. 

"  Above  hII  lliIiiRs  hold  (leur  your  nntional  union.    Accustoin  vonrsplvcn 
to  estimate  ilH  innnitc  valuu  to  yoiii'  in(^!ivi(liiHl  and  iiRtioni.l  ]iH|iiiiiiiss. 
Look  on  it   as  the  pfiliadinm  of  vonr  tranqnilily  at  lioinc- ;    of  yon r 

ficnco  nl)t'OH(l  ;  of  your  Baloly  ;  ol  your  prosiJCiity  j  and  even  of  tliatj 
ibeity  wiiicli  you  so  highly  |)ri7.e." 

WlRIIINGTO^l's  FAnEWELL  ADHIICBS. 

WIIKREAS  many  disalleetcd  eitizcns  liave  long  labored 
fo  prepare  the  publie  mind  for  a  dissolution  of  the  Union, 
and  the  formation  of  separate  confederacies  ;  and  whereas 
they  have  at  len£;tli  publickly  and  darin<^ly  avowed  their 
tla^itioiis  designs ;  and  w  lirreas  the  experience  of  all  history 
to  the  present  time  affords  the  most  complete  proof  that 
such  dissolutions  of  existing  forms  of  government,  and  the! 
formation  of  new  ones,  have  almost  invariably  produced! 
bloody  civil  wars,  the  greatest  curse  that  ever  amicteil  man- 
kind ;  and  whereas  the  present  form  of  the  general  govern- 
ment, if  duly  supported  by  our  citixens,  is  calculated  to  I 
produce  as  high  a  degree  of  happiness  as  has  ever  fallen  to 
the  lot  of  any  nation;  and  whereas  the  separate  confedera- 
cies, contemplated  as  substitutes  for  the  present  general" 
confederacy,  even  if  it  were  possible  to  establish  them 
peaceably,  would*  he  pregnant  with  interminable  future 
wars,  such  as  have  almost  constantly  prevailed  between 
neighboring  States  with  rival  interests,  real  or  supposed, 
and  would  hold  out  every  possible  inducement,  and  every 
desirable  facility  to  foreign  nations,  to  array  each  against 
the  other,  and  thus  subjugate  the  whole,  or  at  least  render 
tliem  dependent  upon,  or  subservient  to  those  foreign  nation?;: 


I'Hl.l  A(  K. 


IK  tlie   exist  in; 


ELL  ADHIIKSS. 


i 

uhI  ulicrcas,  fiimlly,  it  would  houhsoliito  iiiiiiIdoHs  to  tlirow 
i\\A\    tliL'   itieaiciilablu   bicriHiii^H   \\v   fiijoy,    i\n'   (lie    tncrc 
;li,inci;  of  bettoriiiti;  out  (^uiMlition,  luid   Htill   more   i'uv  the 
ilt^iiliitc  certAiiily  of  reiiJoniii;  it  mticii  uoiii)' : 
'I'licrelort'  vesulvej,  that  \w  I  lie  suiirtcrilnTH  ilo  asHociato 

liiuItT  the  title  of  ilio  Waiiinoton    Union   ^^ocikiv,  ot* 

Ivliioli  tiic  folluwihi^  is  the 

CO    sTITt  riox. 

I.  Wc  solemnly  pledj^i!  oiirsclvoH  to  9(l|»[)r»rt  hy  every 
iioMorable  und  let;al  means  in  uiiv  power  the  existing  t'orui 
)l'lhe  general  govornmeiit. 

II.  That  vvc  will  Uito  o(ir  ntmost  entiearors  to  eounteract 
IH  far  as  in  our  power,  all  plots   tor  the  dissolution  uf  the 

^iiioii. 
Hi.  That  we  will  correspond  uud  choerfolly  oo*o|ierato 
[kvilli  ull  individnaU^  and  bodice  of  men,  in  all  parts  of  the 
Ttiion,  who  may  have  the  same  viewH  with  iis  on  the  object 
embraced  in  the  second  article,  however  they  may  diller 
llVoin  ns  on  other  political  topics 

IV  'I'hat  the  olVicers  of  the  society  filial!  be  a  prcsiileiit, 
/ice-president,  secretary,  treasurer,  committee  of  corres- 
pondence, and  committee  of  elections. 

V.  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  committee  of  cou*es- 

londence  to  invite  the  good  citizens  of  this  State,  and  of  the 

[other  States,  to  form  similar  .Societies,  and  to  correspond 

pvith  them  ;  to  investii^atc  and  expose  to  pulilic  abhorrence, 

Itho  various  plans  that  have  been  adopt'd  frocntime  (6  time, 

|to  effect  the  parricidal  purpose  of  dissolving  the  Union  ;  to 

place  in  the  strongest  point  of  light  the  adv:>ntages  of  our 

messed  form  of  government,   with  the  tremendous   conse- 

Iquences  of  civil  war,  and   (the  inevitable  result  of  a  sepa- 

Iration)  our  being  instrutncnis  in  the  hands  of  the  great  Pow- 

lers  of  Europe  to  annoy,  ravage,  depopulate,  slaughter  and 

Idestroy  each  other. 


■■t-. 


'><. 


.* 


TUE 


OLIVE  BRANCH: 


OR 


FAULTS   ON   BOTH  SIDES. 


CHAPTER   I. 

Critical  situation  of  the  United  States,  Bankers  of 
parties  and  factions.  Similaritij  of  our  situation  to 
that  of  France,  Italy  and  England,  previous  to  their 
civil  wars.  To  excite  insurrection  easy.  To  allay 
it  difficult.  Dangerous  tendency  of  inflammatory 
publications, 

X  HE  situation  of  the  United  States  is  at  the  present 
moment  highly  rritical.  Party  and  faction,  the  bane 
and  destruction  of  all  the  old  republics,*  are  carried  to 
such  extravagant  lengths,  as  to  endanger  the  public  tran- 
quility— and  perha-'s  lead  to  civil  war,  the  greatest 
scourge  that   ever  afflicted  mankind.     Unceasing  efforts 

*  An  itlea  has  hrc.n  inopri^ated  by  8n|MMfici;tl  writers,  aiiJ  pretty 
univerH<tlly  belifvfd  by  snjifrficiiil  roailois,  that  party  aiid  ftutinn  are 
peculiar  to  rrptiblica.  N«'vcr  was  ihore  u  guMier  irr«»r  There  is 
hardly  a  body  of  mm,  \\o«  small  or  iiiHii;itifituiit  snevt^r,  thai  is  not 
disturbed  more  or  less  by  p^irty  dix!  ficMoii  Wiihii)  lh«>  IhsI  ten 
yearR,  out*  half,  at  It-ast,  of  the  reliirinus  tniigrt'^iiiiuits  in  PhiliJtlel* 
phia,  have  been  distracted  by  discord,  whxh,  in  inort'  instances  than 
one,  have  hern  carried  to  the  extrime  Icu^lh  of  absolute  separation. 
And,  to  mount  hisiher,  who  can  for(j;ct  (he  violent  farlioiis  at  the 
commearement  of  the  leign  of  George  HI.  wheu  Cnglaiid  was  on  the 

SI 


±4, 


THE    OLIVE   BBANCil. 


are  and  have  been  used  to  excite  our  citizens  to  open 
resistance  to  government.*  This  has  principally  taken 
place  in  the  eastern  states  ;  but  there  is  hardly  a  portion 
of  the  union  in  which  there  are  not  persons  constantly 
employed  in  inflaming  the  public  mind,  and  preparing 
it  lor  commotions.*  Thousands  and  tens  oi  thousands 
of  citizens,  upright,  honest  and  honourable  in  private 
life,  have  been  so  deluded  by  the  madness  of  party  as  to 
believe,  that  the  deteat,  the  disgrace  and  the  disasters  ot 
our  armiest — the  destruction  of  the  public  credit* — fas 
leading  to  the  expulsion  from  their  stations  of  the  highest 
public  functionaries  duly  chosen  by  the  people) — were 
all  "  a  consummation  devoutly  to  be  wished" — and  the 
certain  means  of  procuring  a  speedy  and  an  honourable 
peace,  which  we  could  not  fail  to  secure,  from  the  mag- 
nanimity of  Great  Britain,  firovided'we  removed  those 
public  officers,  whom,  accoidmg  to  them,  she  has  so 
mucl^  reason  to  execrate. 

very  verjje  of  iHsurrection— and  let  me  add  the  religious  crusade  of 
lord  Gcoijju  Goi(l(M»,  whirl)  wuh  tiie  uf^i'spi  ing  of  JaLtion,  and  Icimi- 
natcd  iti  eiikindliu;;  Ihiriy-six  tiicsal  oine  in  Luiidon — of  v\hich 
city  the  luub  had  tiiidisliu  bed  poss^ssiou  for  st-vt-ral  days  AM  ihe 
felons,  and  othrr  tenants  of  (hi  prisons  had  Iht  n  (iiiiiiis  knorkt  d  offy 
and  were  let  loose  once  more  to  piey  on  ll'.e  public.  The  enunieru- 
tion  were  endlciis      Let  tins  slit;hl  sketch  solKce. 

*  These  topirs  will  be  fully  diticusscd  in  specific  chapters  at  the 
close  of  this  woik. 

f  To  some  of  my  readers  this  'will  seem  impossible.  Il  certainly 
appears  incredible  Bnt  ihere  me  uiciny  ihin,;s  vi-ry  incredible,  that 
are  neverlhelfss  true  .4nd  it  is  e.ipiibie  of  (uoof,  that  {jentliinen, 
hiijlily  eslinuible  in  private  life,  have  ihankcii  (lod  inusi  ftivently  fur 
the  cli*(j;raeefnl  capinreof  out  armies;  uilurs  b.ive  prayed  to  liod 
that  rxfiy  one  of  4>ursolduis  who  entered  Canada,  niiabt  be  slauijh- 
tered  This  is  one  ol  tin- many  strange  and  utiaccoiui^ibie  instances  ill 
whieb  our  history  is  uiteriy  utiliki  the  histories  of  the  other  uitions 
of  the  earth.  It  is  reallv  a  sui  generis  1  frel  pii'tiy  eoptiicnl  that 
no  man  of  rbaiacter  oi  worth  m  Kii<:!ai)d  evrr  rijoiees  at  i  be  disi^i  ace 
ur  disasters  ot  bis  country  Bet  I  liUnb  l<>  u>ll  ii,  the  ilih^iiu-e  of  our 
armies  has  bt  en  repeat  ettiy  a  siibjci  t  of  as  nuii  bexu'.iaiion  in  oni  <  iiti'ee 
lionses  and  our  newspapers,  as  m  the  eiiy  «>f  LointiMi  I  ennld  a  ime 
indiviilnals  of  Uie  nimosl  uoitb  in  all  the  soii  I  ivlalions,  txccpt  that 
tcfiicfi  they  bear  to  then  couniri/,  w  ho-se  satisfi.  Ikim  ai  lln  (lislns^ea 
ami  emt^iaitajistueuib  ut  tbti  govciuineiil  ut  leusl  equalled  Ihul  of  lord 
^astlereagU. 


.x: 


IM 


THE   OLIVE    BRANCH. 


19 


he  eiiiimci'U- 


upters  at  the 


It  is  in  vain  that  the  uniform  voice  of  history  pro- 
claims that  the  generosity  oi  nations  towards  each  other 
is  a  non-entitv  ;  that  the  terms  of  a  treaty  will  be  more 
or  less  favor.ihle  or  injurious  in  proportion  to  the  re- 
lative streni^th  of  the  parties  ;  that  powerful  nations 
have  always  taken  advantage  of  the*  feebleness  oi  their 
adversaries  ;  and  that  the  certain  road  to  a  speedy  and 
an  honorable  peace  has  ever  been  to  wage  war  totis 
vinbus. 

Were  history  wholly  silent  on  these  topics,  the  inher- 
ent propensities  of  human  nature,  prwperly  explored, 
might  satisfy  every  rational  mind  ot  tiie  soundness  of 
those  political  maxims.  They  are  fair  deductions  of 
reason  and  common  sense,  to  which  the  universal  expe- 
rience ot  mankind  bears  testimony.  Every  nation  in  its 
periods  of  debility  has  been  obliged  occasionally  to  sub- 
mit to  injustice.  Every  nation  possessingr  the  power 
to  do  injustice,  has  more  or  less  availed  itself  of  the  op- 
portunity. 

I  am  not  ignorant,  that  my  fears  of  civil  war  are 
regarded  as  visionary,  as  the  wild  effusions  of  a  disor- 
dered brain.  I  find  myscU  in  a  small  minority.  And 
il  the  correctness  of  opinions  were  to  be  tested  by  the 
numbers  who  entertain  them,  mine  would  be  most  mise- 
rably erroneous.  But  this  is  a  conclusion  not  warranted 
by  history.  It  has  been  a  thousand  times  said,  and  will 
be  as  often  repeated,  that  the  people  of  the  United  States 
are  too  enlightened  to  fall  into  such  a  fatal  error  ;  that 
they  know  too  v;ell  the  value  of  the  blessings  they  enjoy, 
to  sacrifice  them  so  absurdly.  Such  a  delusion  was 
pardonable  a  few  years  back.  But  bur  recent,  stupend- 
ous follies  must  have  wholly  dispelled  it.  We  have  dis- 
played, in  many  cases,  nearly  as  much  insanity  as  the 
history  of  any  nation  exhibits. 

Danger  is  not  diminished  by  shutting  our  eves  against 
its  approach,  or  by  denying  its  existence.  This  would 
be  a  cheap  price  to  pay  for  security.  But  it  is  not  to  be 
purchased  thus.     And  those  who  seriously  weigh  the 


■I  .;, 
I 


! 


!! 


16 


THE   OLIVS  BRANCH. 


•  p 


I 


m 


causes  that  led  to  the  civil  wars  which  desolated  Frarrccr, 
under  the  house  of  Valois  ;  England  under  Cliarles  I.  ; 
and  Italy  for  entire  centuries,  with  hardly  any  intermis- 
sion ;  will  have  reason  to  helieve  that  our  security  is 
very  far  from  being  as  well  founded  as  is  generally  sup- 
posed. In  many  points  of  view,  our  situation  and  our 
proceedings  bear  a  strong  analogy  to  those  of  the  three 
nations  to  which  I  have  referred,  immediately  previou»^ 
to  their  respective  civil  wars.  Whoever  reads  Davila's 
history  of  France,  Macinavel's  history  of  Florence,  or 
Clarendon's  history  of  the  rebellion  under  Charles  I, 
with  due  attention,  will  be  astonished  at  the  near  resem- 
blance. 

The  difference  between  our  situation  a  few  years  since, 
and  the  present  turbid  state  of  the  country,  is  indubi- 
tably far  greater  than  from  where  we  now  stand  to  insur- 
I'ection,  and  separation,  and  civil  war.  While  there  are 
so  many  combustible  materials  scattered  abroad,  and 
such  unceasing  pains  taken  to  inflame  the  public  mind, 
verv  trivial  accidents  may  enkindle  a  conflagration. — 
Once  unhinge  a  government — once  let  loose  mankind 
irom  the  restraints  of  law  and  constitution — and  the  hu- 
man mind  cannot  readily  calculate  the  terrible  result.  It 
is  said,  that  those  who  have  for  years  urged  the  propri- 
ety, and  necessity,  and  advantages  to  the  eastern  states, 
ot'  a  dissolution  of  the  union,  do  not  intend  to  proceed 
thus  far  ;  and  that  they  hold  out  these  threats  in  terrorem 
to  awe  the  administration.  There  is  the  strongest  possi- 
ble reason  to  believe  that  this  is  a  pernicious,  a  fatal 
error — and  that  the  leaders  of  the  malecontents  are  per- 
fectly serious  in  their  views  of  a  separation.  How  often 
have  the  churches  echoed  with  the  insurrectional,  the 
treasonable,  the  fanatical  cry — "  Have  we  no  Moses  to 
••  lead  us  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt  ?"  Fatuity  itself  can- 
not mistake  the  meaning  here.  But  even  were  they 
merely  threatening,  it  affords  us  no  certainty  against  the 
ruinous  result.  Those  who  raise  the  storm  of  civil  com- 
motions are  not  able  at  pleasure  to  allay  its  violence,, 
and  to  say  with  effect,  "  thus  far  shalt  thou  go,  and  n« 


m 


# 


i  ^— ^^^>;*.»eti»»"'*^>^• 


-.../*- -.- 


THE   OHVB   BRAXCH. 


it 


farther."  This  theory  was  fully  exemplified  In  the  wars 
of  England  between  Charles  I.  and  his  parliament,  and 
likewise  in  the  French  Revolution.  The  latter,  of  which 
nearly  all  the  early  leaders  perished  in  jails  and  on  scat- 
folds,  is  a  very  strong  case.  Very  few  of  these  distin- 
guished men  contemplated  a  recourse  to  arms  They 
hoped  for  a  bloodless  triumph  over  tyranny.  But  they 
were  borne  down  by  violent  and  wicked  men  whom 
their  proce(  dings  put  in  motion,  but  whom  they  could 
not  restiain. 

Never  have  brighter  prospects  shone  on  a  nation  thati 
those  that  shone  on  the  United  States.  Never  has  a  na- 
tion been  more  highly  blessed.  Never  has  the  security 
of  person  and  property — of  liberty,  civil  and  religious, 
been  attained  by  such  easy  sacrifices.  Never  has  the 
weight  ot  government  pressed  more  lightly.  Never  have 
tiie  loudest  theories  of  philosophers  and  lovers  of  man- 
kind, been  more  completely  realized. 

Our  case  is  very  analagous  to  that  of  a  youth  who  in- 
herits a  large  estate,  and,  unacquainted  with  the  diffi- 
culty ot  its  acquisition,  cannot  torm  an  estimate  of  its 
value,  which  is  only  to  be  done  by  a  due  consideration 
ot  the  condition  of  those  who  are  destitute  of  the  advan- 
tages ot  toitune.  He  becomes  a  prodigal,  and  lavishes 
away  his  treasures,  which  he  only  then  begins  to  ap- 
preciate, when  they  are  irretrievably  squandered.  This 
IS  precisely  our  case.  We  have  not  vSufficiently  com- 
pared our  situation  with  that  of  the  mass  of  ma  ikind. — 
We  have  never  taken  a  full  view,  of  the  glorious,  the 
inestimable  advantages  we  possessed.  We  have  bad  the 
most  noble  inheritance  that  ever  fell  to  the  lot  of  a  na- 
tion, and  have  not  duly  appreciated  our  happiness ;  we 
have  jeopardized  it  most  wantonly  and  tatuitously.-— 
We  are  on  the  verge  of  its  total  loss.  A  little  further 
progress  in  folly  and  madness,  and  we  shall  be  undone. 
We  have  by  rapid  strides  approached  the  banks  of  the 
Rubicon.  Whether  we  shall  now  plunge  in,  and  ford 
the  stream,  or,  st'uck  with  a  due  sense  of  our  error* 
and  our  dan  ),er,  shall  make  a  retrograde  movement,  and 
2* 


■*!' 


f* 


va  f"*-" 


18 


THE   OLIVE    DKAKC it. 


regain  the  clystum  whence  wc  started,  is  yet  in  the  womb 
of  time.  Mdv  heaven  direct  us  to  the  blessed  alterna- 
tive !  Beyond  the  stream  verges  a  dreary  desart,  where 
anarchy  and  civil  war  hold  their  terrific  reign,  with  all 
their  long  train  ot  horrors,  and  where  the  devious  paths 
lead  directly  to  ruthless  despotism. 

It  is  time,  therefore,  to  make  a  solemn  pause — to  re- 
trace our  steps — and,  since  we  refuse  to  profit  by  the  sad 
experience  of  other  ages  and  nations,  to  avail  ourselves 
oi  our  own.  By  honest  endeavors — bv  abating  the  odi- 
ous violence  ot  paity  spirit — by  mutual  compromise — 
by  shaking  off  the  yoke  of  the  violent  men  whose  influ- 
ence and    prosperity   depend   on    public  commotions — 

■we  may  happily  regain  the  ground  we  have  lost wc 

may  dispel  the  delusion  that  is  leading  u&  to  temporal  per- 
dition. 

To  vindicate  myself  from  tlie  charge  of  folly,  in  my 
gloomy  apprehensions  and  anticipations,  I  shall  submit 
to  the  reader,  in  a  special  chapter,  a  few  of  the  hundred 
thousand  literary  eiTorts  which  for  years  have  been  ma- 
king to  enkindle  the  llimes  of  civil  war.  That  we  have 
not  yet  been  involved  in  it,  is  not  justly  chargeable  to 
the  want  of  a  due  degree  of  labor  and  industry.  Never 
was  more  activity  di^played---never  was  a  cause  more 
sedulously  or  ably  advocated.  And  never  was  there  less 
scruple  about  the  means  provided  the  end  was  accom- 
plished. 

The  language  of  the  writers  is  pieltv  plain.  It  admits 
of  no  mistake  or  misconstruction.  That  they  intend  to 
produce  insurrection  and  dissolution  of  the  union,  re- 
gardless of  the  frightful  consequences,  it  v»'ould  be  im- 
pudence to  deny  ;  it  would  he  folly,  or  insanity  to  dis- 
believe. What  may  ultimatelv  be  their  success,  it  is 
impossible  to  foresee.  Every  thing  depends  on  the  course 
that  may  be  pursued  by  those  who  have  an  inteiest  in  the 
public  welfare.  If  they  are  not  wantisg  to  themselves 
and  to  their  country,  we  shall  lise  triumphant  over  our 
present  difficulties  and  embarrassments.  But  if  the  pre- 
vailing wonderful  apathy  continues ;   ii  - ,  e  remain  sJug- 


Tiir  OLivK  BHAKC'ir.  ip 

gislily  with  our  arms  folded,  wl.ile  our  situation  grows 
daily  worse  and  worse  ;  ruin  is  inevit,.bU\  And  \vc 
shall  aflbrd  one  ot  tlic  most  striding  iuHancc'i  io  be  tound 
in  history  of  premature  decay  tuul  decrepitude.  Nlay  the 
Lord  in  his  mercy  avert  such  an  awful  fate  ! 

Reliance  is  placed  by  those  wlio  deny  the  existence 
of  the  danger  which  I  (leprecjtc,  upon  the  sober  charac- 
ter ot  the  nation.  Tliey  dccni  tliat  charactrr  a  guarantee 
against  civil  war.  1  am  well  awaie  of  tlii.s  circLimstance. 
I  allow  it  a  due  share  of  influence  and  injportanc:'.  But 
the  strong  inference  drawn  from  it  is  un;varrantcd  bv 
history.  And  let  it  be  observed  once  tor  all,  that  the 
only  unerring  guide  in  government  or  jiolitics,  is  history, 
to  the  neglect  oi  whose  lessons  may  be  ascrilicd  more 
than  two  thirds  oi  our  errors  and  iullics.  The  Athenians 
were  a  highly  polished,  and  a  refined  people.  Yet  tiicy 
weie  occasionally  led  to  the  most  tiightful  cri'.eiiics  bv 
their  C Icons  and  other  enrages.  They  massacred  many 
hundreds  of  prisoners  in  cold  blood,  and  long  aftei  they 
were  taken.  And  the  proscriptions  and  butcheries  the 
adverse  parties  perpetrated  on  each  other,  as  they  gained 
the  ascendancy,  are  frightful  subjects  of  reflection,  and 
hold  out  useful  warnings  to  us.  No  nation  of  modern 
Europe  excelled  Trance,  iew  equalled  her — in  courtesy — 
in  mildness — in  urbanity.  And  yet  never  did  man  exhi- 
bit himself  under  a  more  hideous  aspect — never  did  he 
change  nature  more  ct)mplrtelv  with  wolves,  tygers,  and 
hyaenas,  than  under  Marat,  Danton,  Couthon,  and  Ro- 
bespierre. T/iese  are  awful  lessons,  to  which  those  zuho 
are  leilding  their  aid  to  tear  down  the  pillars  of  our  gov- 
crnment,  oui^ht  to  attend.  Man  is  the  same  every  where, 
under  the  same  excitements.  We  have  our  Cleons,  and 
our  Couthons,  and  our  Dantons,  who  only  require  suitable 
occasions  to  srivc  scope  to  their  energies.  The  American 
revolution  exhibited  in  various  places,  where  the  parties 
were  rancorously  embittered  against  each  other,  many 
terrifying  scenes.  Prisoners  were  often  hung  up  with- 
out tr^al  bv  the  partizans  on  hot'  sides.  Men  and  women 
were  treacherously  shot  down  in  their  houses.     And  not 


t 


^  mm 

m 


so 


THE    OL!VR   BRAXCH. 


unfrequently  private  malice  diMTUised  itself  under  ths 
cloi»k  of  public  spiiit,  to  sate  its  rage.  Let  us  ponder 
well  on  those  circumstinccs. 

To  apply  a  remedy  to  any  evil,  moral  or  physical,  it  is 
indispensably  neccssaiv  to  exj)lorc  its  nature — to  asccTtain 
its  causes — and  to  trace  their  consequences.  Any  other 
procedure  is  the  result  ot  error  and  folly,  and  pregnant 
with  deleat  and  disappointment. 

With  this  view  1  respectlully  solicit  the  public  atten- 
tion. I  shall  take  a  rapid,  rctiospective  glance  at  the  lol- 
lies and  guilt,  which  the  tactions  and  discordant  state  of 
our  country  has  generated.  As  tar  as  in  my  power  I  have 
divested  myselt  of  any  piirtv  bias,  and  shall  treat  the  sub- 
ject as  it  it  belonged  to  another  age  or  nation.  Whatever 
errors  1  may  fall  into,  shall  not  arise  from  sinister  inten- 
tion— they  shall  be  chargeable  to  inadvertence  and  human 
imperfection.  And  on  my  freedom  from  partiality,  I 
teel  the  more  reliance,  from  my  unalterable  conviction, 
that  both  the  hostile  parties  that  divide  this  country,  and 
who  regard  each  other  with  so  much  hatred  and  jealousy, 
have  largely  contributed  towards  the  mistoitunes  that  have 
bciallen  us — the  melancholy  change  that  has  taken  place 
in  our  situation — and  the  dangers  ttiat  threaten  us.  For  it 
is  niipossible  that  a  candid  mind  can  review  the  scenes 
through  which  we  have  passed  tor  some  years,  without  a 
thorough  conviction,  that  each  has  been  guilty  of  most 
egregious  errors,  and  follies,  and  occasionally  of  some- 
thing worse  than  either  ;  and  that  whenever  the  interests 
of  the  nation  and  the  interests  of  the  party  came  in  colli- 
sion, the  tormer  were  too  frequently  sacrificed*  by  both 
federalists  and  democrats  to  the  latter.  No  man  who  has 
any  public  spirit,  can  take  a  review  ot  our  history  without 
feeling  the  deepest  regret  at  the  extent  of  the  mischief 
this  miserable  system  of  conduct  has  produced.  It  has 
deteated  many  of  the  noblest  plans  that  the  wisdom  of  the 
country  has  ever  devised.     I  may  be  wrong  in  my  calcu- 

*  Tilts  if  one  of  the  most  lamentable  aud  humiliating  facta  in 
oar  history. 


¥ 


■^^ 


I'Qgfejk" — "'^"■n 


•^■■tK-.T- 


TUB   OLIVB   BRANCH. 


21 


lations,  but  I  believe  it  bas  prevailed  to  a  frrenfer  extent 
here  tlian  in  jimost  any  otiier  countrv.  When  tbc  pre- 
sent {Tcrcrat'on  sits  for  its  picture  to  the  historian,  it  Nvill 
iorm  a  strong  contrast  to  that  vvhicii  is  passed  and      ne — 

'*  O  quHiitum  mutalufl  ab  illo!** 

The  errors  or  follies,  however,  of  cither  party  wonbl  b.avc 
produced  but  little  injury  compiiratlvely,  had  n(U  those  ot 
the  other  consj)hed  to  give  them  malignitv  and  effect. 

From  this  exposition  of  my  views,  it  is  obvious  I  shall 
steer  a  coiuse  very  different  from  the  generality  of  writers 
on  political  topics.  With  hardly  a  single  exception, 
their  object  is,  having  espoused  a  party,  to  justity  and  em- 
blazon its  supporters,  whether  right  or  wrong  ;  and,  it" 
needs  be, 

"  To  make  the  worBC  appnar  the  better  cause.'* 

In  pursuit  of  tbis  object,  their  own  parti zans  are  all  angels 
of  iiglit, — whose  sublime  and  magnificent  plans  of  poficj 
are  calculated  to  produce  a  political  millennium  ;  and 
their  opponeiits,  demons  incarnate,  intent  on  tbe  des- 
truction of  tbe  best  interests  of  tbe  country.  These  por- 
traits are  equaMy  unjust  and  incorrect.  One  is  all  beauty, 
with  little  resemblance  to  tbe  pretended  original — the 
other  a  hideous  caricature,  equally  foreign  [rom  honor, 
truth  and  justice. 

Among  the  frightful  consequences  resulting  from  this 
odious  practice,  a  plain  and  palpable  one  presents  itself. 
These  horrible  portraits  engender  a  satanical  spirit  of 
hatred,  malice,  and  abhorrence  in  the  parties  towards  each 
other.  Men  on  both  sides,  whose  views  are  perfectly 
pure  and  public  spirited,  are  to  each  other  objects  of  dis- 
trust and  jealousy.  We  attach  all  possible  guilt  and 
wickedness — political  at  least--to  our  opponents— and 
then  detest  the  hobgoblins  which  we  have  ourselves 
created. 

It  is  not  thus  society  is  constituted.  The  mass  of  man- 
kind of  all  parties,  and  perhaps  in  all  a^es,  hftve  ijieant 


;":*^„ 


23 


THE  OLivn  rr.Axcit, 


H 


well,  cxcrpt  in  very  corrupt  states  of  society.  And  little 
more  \c,  necessary  to  pjodiicc  hnrtnony  between  tliein, 
tii.j?!  tj  i(M(!ei stand  eicli  otlict  concctly.  But  they  .»rc 
kept  in  I'.ostiltty  l;y  tl'.c  Intvi^Tiie;,  and  niar.rigcment  o\  dc- 
irsago^MH-s,  whose  inflnenec  and  consequence  depend  on 
fon^-pnlintv  fliscoid,  and  wh.tj  would  sink  into  insignificance 
in  tir.ics  of  tranq\n!ity.  M-nkind  liate  each  other,  not 
lor  real  exist imv  (liiTerences,  but  tor  phantoms,  the  pro- 
duction o\  bc-!tc'd  ima()UHtions.  Kxperience  has  fre- 
quently evinced  tliat  tiic  very  plans  of  policy  whlob  par- 
ties  out  ot  power  have  teprobated  and  denounced  as  per- 
ni'Mous,  they  h.ive  pu)sui:d  tluMTiselves  as  soon  as  they 
had  vanquished  tiieii  opponents, and  seized  on  their  places. 
And  I  believe  eveiy  man  of  refl.?ction  will  acknowledge 
that  i^  tlie  iederaiists  had  retained  the  administration  in 
their  hands,  they  would  have  advocated  the  rights  of  their 
country  as  firmly  as  their  successors  have  done,  and 
would  probably  have  adopted  measures  to  resist  the  pre- 
tentions of  England,  similar  to  those  lot  which  they  have 
so  strenuously,  though  not  very  honorably  or  consistently 
opposed  the  present  administration. 

In  truth,  this  is  not  mere  supposition.  It  is  historical 
fact.  It  will  be  seen  in  the  sequel  of  this  work,  that  the 
federalists  took  as  high  giound  on  the  subject  of  impress- 
ment, and  as  firmly  and  p2V'iotically  resisted  the  unjust 
pretentions  of  England  in  that  respect,  as  Mr.-Jeffeison 
or  Mr.  Madison  has  done  :  althouah  the  resistance  of  the 
two  latter  presidents  has  been  airouTthc  r.trorKjest  accusa- 
tlons  alleged  against  them  by  their  political  adversaries. 
It  is  impossible  to  reliect  on  these  topics  v/ithout  sighing 
over  human  weakness  and  folly.  Tedet  alism  has  in  these 
transactions  sufTcrcd  a  stain  never  to  be  efficed. 


■!   ;,i. 


THE  OLIVI    DRANCU. 


2S 


CHAP.  II. 

En'nra  nf  Ihc  Jlrmocvrtfic  rnrt'f.  Frla'al  Consflfnflon. 
Oliposltinn  fo  a  tV'fiv/.  •  .']//r?»  and  Hedit'inn  Law. — 
Ti\^nti;  "f  JfrsHvfi  Mrv.vor.  and  Finuaaj,  'Vhe  Embar- 
go.    Heparaiiun  of  the  fdtutes. 

In  pursuance  of  my  plan,  I  proceed  to  a  review  of 
those  errors  ot  tlic  demociatic  party,  wliicii  have  contri- 
buted to  produce  tl)e  change  in  the  prospects  of  this 
country,  and  to  darken  tlie  political  hori/.on;  and  I  trust 
it  will  appear  th.'»:  I  have  not  done  them  injustice  in 
char^nnt^  them  with  having  a  la;  .^c  portion  ot  the  guilt 
to  answer  for. 


Fedcrcd  Consliluiion. 

In  the  convention  that  formed  the  federal  constitution, 
this  party  sowed  the  seeds  oi  a  premature  dissolution  of 
that  insrument,  and  ot  the  American  contederacy. — 
Regardin;r  society  more  as  it  ought  to  be,  than  as  it  has 
ever  been,  or  is  ever  likely  to  be — led  astray  by  theories 
more  plausible  than  solid — applving  to  a  tre;'  elective 
government,  derivim;  all  its  powers  and  authorities  troni 
the  voice  of  tlie  pcoj)!e,  maxims,  and  apprehensions, 
and  precautions,  calculated  for  the  meridian  of  mon- 
archy, they  directed  alKtheir  efforts,  and  all  their  views, 
towards  guardintr  against  oppression  from  the  federal 
government.  Wbatever  of  auth<irity  or  power,  they 
divested  it  of,  to  be^tow  on  tiie  state  governments,  or 
reserve  to  the  people,  was  regarded  as  an  important  ac- 
quisition. Against  the  federcd  grovernmeiit  tlieir  fears 
and  terrors  were  wholly  directed.  This  was  the  ?fion- 
struni  horrenJwn — la^rens — itifor>nc^  which  they  labored 
to  cripple  and  c!nin  down,  to  prevent  its  ravages.— 
riie  state  governmetiis  thev  le^'udcd  with  the  utmost 
complaisance,  as  tb.e  public  p  utei  t)'s  against  tliis  dread- 
ed enemy  of  liberty.     Alas  !   little  did  tUey  suppose  that 


i^ 


TUB  OLivK  nnAveit. 


( 


V 


our  ^rc.Uest  dangers  woulil  arise  from  the  usurpalioni  oi' 
the  state  governments,  some  of  wliiih  arc  disposed  to 
jeopardize  tiic  general  government.  Untoitiuidtely  they 
wetc  too  riucrerislul.  Tl»eir  endeavours  pn)di.iced  a  con- 
stitution, wliicli,  however  adniiraMy  calculated  for  a 
period  oi  peice,  lias  been  found  inconipetcnt  in  war 
to  call  I'ortli,  at  once  and  decisively,  the  energies  oi" 
the  nation,  and  which  has  been  repeatedly  bended  by 
th?  state  governnjcnts.  Had  {\\c  real  federalists  in  the 
convention  succeeded,  and  made  the  govenifnent  some- 
wh-it  more  energetic — endowed  it  witli  a  s.nall  dejjrec 
moi'!  of  pow^'r — it  might  endure  for  centiuies.  What 
fate  at  present  awaits  it,  is  not  in  human  wisdom  to  fote- 
see.  I  fervently  pray,  with  the  celebrated  father  Paul, 
£sto  pe; pi'tua. 

Til  is  error  of  the  cUmocratic  party  arose  from  a  want 
of  flue  regard  to  the  history  of  republics,  and  from  a 
d(*cp  studv  of  tiiose  political  writers  who  had  written 
under  monarciiical  governments,  and  whose  views  were 
wholly  directed  to  guard  against  the  dangers  flowing 
from  tlie  overweening  regal  power,  especially  when  in 
the  hiiuls  of  men  of  powerful  talents,  and  great  ambition. 
Tlie  theories  whence  they  derived  their  views  of  g»)vern- 
meat  were  splendid  and  sublime — the  productions  of 
men  of  great  public  spirit,  and  regarJ  for  the  public 
weltare  and  happiness — and  had  they  been  duly  attem- 
peicd  by  mixinis  diawn  from  experience,  would  liavc 
been  of  inestimable  value. 


iiionev,  ev 


.  •  Establishment  of  a  small  ^avy. 

The  steady  and  factious  opposition  mide  bv  the  de- 
mocratic party  to  the  est ahlishnient  of  a  small  navy, 
adequate  at  least  to  the  piotect'on  of  our  own  co»sts, 
has  been  proved  by  the  event  to  have  been  most  wretch- 
ed and  miserable  policy.  It  arose  parti v  from  ihe  spirit 
of  hostility  towards  the  p.^vtv  in  |)o\ver,  and  p.irtly  from 
a  sordid  and  contemptible  spirit  ot  economyi  which  has 


TiiK  OLIVE  nn.wcn. 


25 


n  many  iiifl.uiccs  clifjirraccd  and  dilhonourcd  tils  p.nity, 
who  have  IrcqutMitIv  proved  thendelves,  to  ii(c  a  very 
trite  but  very  cxjjrcllive  proverb,  peniiv  wile — pound 
f'jolidi.  When  we  analvz<;  the  hoalled  (pirit  ot  crono- 
)nv  to  which  tlie  oppofition  to  a  navy  may  be  in  part 
afcribed,  we  Ihall  find  it  arifes  from  two  lourees  ;  the 
one,  Irom  men  n|  narrow  minds  carrvirig  into  pul)lic, 
tlie  liiK  kl.crinj.'j  habits  ot  private  lite.  The  oilier,  a  bafc 
ipiiit  ot  courting  popularity  bv  hnlb-mding  the  public 
iiioncv,  even  on  ocealions  when  liberality  is  true  econo- 
my, which  is  as  tre(jucntly  the  eai';  in  public  affairs  as 
in  piivate  lit^.  Both  motives  are  ecpially  contempti- 
ble ;  but  tiie  latter  is  the  more  pernicious,  and  produces 
the  molf  ruinous  confcquences.  It  llarves  and  Imotlu-rs 
public  undertakings,  and  public  fpirit,  and  often  de- 
frauds illufbious  men  of  their  due  rewards.  To  this 
vile  fpirit  we  niufl  afcribc  the  ncver-enough-to-be-def- 
pifed  debate,  whether  Eaton,  the  glorious  and  immortal 
hero  of  Derne,*  fhould  have  a  fword  or  a  medal  !  a  de- 
bate which  brought  down  on  the  congrefs  in  which  it 
took  place  the  contempt  of  every  magnanimous  and  lib- 
eral man  in  the  nation  ;  a  debate  which  would  have  dis- 
graced the  common  council  of  the  mofl  petty  borough 
ill  the  union.  To  this  fpirit  it  will  be  due  that  votes  of 
thanks,  and  fwords,  and  urns,  and  other  cheap  modes 
of  difplaying  our  gratitude,  will  probably  quiet  our 
minds,  and  deceive  us  into  the  opinion,  that  we  liave 
I-aid  the  boundlefs  debt  due   to  the  Perries,  tlie  Macdo- 

*  Pt'ihaps  I  may  he  wronj;  in  my  rsfimnlfoii  of  Jhts  c:;jili)it.  Rut 
I  cannot  lu-lp  rt'jftudinj;  it  as  one  of  llir  ni  si  illuatrimiH  evtnJs  in 
Aineiiran  military  aft'iura  by  ianil— wl.cn  !»ll  flie  c'im'ms.liM,<«s  of 
the  case  are  taken  into  view  I  ncvti  ><f)«fi  uiiliom  uiu-./finrnt 
and  attmnation  on  the  heroism  of  the  ui>llaiil  baml,  m|o  uiult  r  ihin 
inlre|ii»l  chief  piJircJ  thrnu{jh  the  dcsart.  and  Kliook  a  jiowcrfnl 
usu.por's  throne  to  tlie  centre.  1  have  always  dc|>l«.r{il  tlte  inaiis|)i- 
clous  interference  that  dashed  tlie  jjlorious  prize  in  the  earih  jnst  as 
Eaton  had  slretchtd  o»l  his  band,  and  wjis  rcadv  to  seizr-  it  wiihont 
Ibe  smallest  dan|;er  of  an  unfavoiahle  result.  I  lu  siau  of  [VJassa- 
cbusotts  acquired  grcrjt  honor  by  its  liberalily  lo  the  warrioi  o/ 
©erne,  on  whom  »t  bestowed  a  valuable  tract  of  land  as  a  niaik  of  it* 
esteem  ai.d  admiration. 

3 


% 


W 


26 


THE    OLIVE    nUAXCH. 


jionghs,  and  tlie  other  heroes  whofc  deeds  will  live  as 
long  as  the  world  endures. 

Tiie  niodefl,  the  unairuming,  the  youthtul  Perry,  by 
his  vihlory  laved  a  whole  hontiej,  men,  women,  and 
children,  Irotn  the  murderous  tomahawk  ;  Macdonough's 
has  ceitauily  laved  anotlier,  and  prevented  the  enemy 
from  eltablilhing  his  winter  quarters  far  witliin  our  terri- 
tory. Thefe  are  debts  and  claims  hardly  ever  to  be  paid 
off:  and  the  obligation  ot  gratitude  they  impole  on  the 
nation  by  their  immenfe  advantages,  is  incalculably  en- 
hanced by  the  illuftrious  difplay  of  tranfcendent  talents 
and  diUingUifhcd  braveiv  they  mani Felted. 

It  England,  whom  in  this  reri}e(:l  we  ought  to  afpire 
to  emulate,  gave  500, cool,  fterling  to  a  Wellington, 
let  the  United  States  give  fome  fohd  and  fubltantial  proof 
ot  their  giatitude,  befules  the  mere  bioker's  value  oF  the 
fhips  they  deftroy,  to  their  naval  Wellingtons.  I  need 
not  add  that  I  do  not  calculate  upon  fuch  very  extrava- 
gant rewards  as  the  Britilh  parliament  voted  "the  gi-eat 
lord,"  as  he  has  been  (tiled.  But  the  gift  ought  to  be 
worthy  of  the  donor  and  acceptor  ;  ought  to  opei'ate  as  a 
reward  to  the  meritorious,  and  a  Itimulus  to  excite  others 
to  emulation. 

This  is  fomewhat  of  a  digreffion.  But  I  hope  I  (hall 
not  have  a  reader  whofe  feelings  will  not  be  fulHciently 
in  unifon  with  thefe  fentiments,  not  to  require  any  apolo- 
gy.    I  therefore  make  none. 

I  teel  confident,  that  the  nation  has  loft  ten  times  as 
much  through  the  want  of  a  fmall  navy,  as  it  would 
have  co(t.  Numbers  of  in  fiances  have  occurred,  ot  va- 
luable merchantmen  having  been  captured  by  petty  pick- 
aroons  or  pirates,  with  one  or  two  guns.  Our  ports 
have  been  infulted  and  outraged  by  privateers  and  (loops 
of  war,  which  a  few  veffels  would  have  forced  to  keep 
a  refpe6ft'ul  diftance.  There  is  none  ot  the  points  on 
which  tlie  two  hoftile  parties  have  differed,  in  which  the 
democrats  are  fo  very  far  below  their  adverfaries  in  con- 
fulting  the  real,  the  permanent  honour  and  intereft  ot 
the  country,   as  ia  the  eftablifliment  of  a  naval  force. 


'^  n. 


THE    OLIVE    BRANCH. 


sr 


I'lie  policy  of  the  federalifts  In  this  rcfpcft  was  dig- 
nified and  honourable  ;  tliat  of  the  democrats  miferably 
contraded. 


tSlien  and  Sedition  laics,  and  Eight  per  Cent  Loan. 

The  faftious  clamour  excited  againft  the  fedition  and 
alien  laws,  again fl  the  eight  percent,  loan — which  cla- 
mour was  the  principal  means  of  changing  the  adminiitra- 
tion,  and  taking  it  from  tlie  hands  of  the  federalists,  to 
place  it  in  thofe  of  the  democrats — may  be  juflly  reckon- 
ed among  the  fins  of  the  latter  paity.  A  candid  review 
of  the  fo-ftiled  fedition  law,  at  the  prcfent  hour,  when 
the  public  ferment  to  which  it  gave  rife,  has  wholly 
fubfided,  will  fatisfy  any  reafonable  man,  that  fo  iar 
from  being  an  outrageous  infringement  ot  liberty,  as  was 
afferted,  it  v.'as  a  meafjre  n(<t  merely  defenfible  ;  but  ab- 
folutelv  ncceifarv  and  indifpenfiblc  towards  the  fupport 
of  government.*  To  enable  the  reader  to  judge  for 
liinifelf,  without  the  trouble  of  referring  to  a  volume  of 
llie  laws,  I  annex  the  document  itfelf. 


'§ 


"Stc.  1.  Be  it  enartol  hy  the  Senate  and  House  of  Rcpresenta- 

Jivc's  of  the  United  .Slates  of  Auii-iicii.  in  Con!{irss  Hssembled,  That 
if  any  persons  shall  unlaufully  combine  or  conspire  tnoet/ier^  ivilh  in- 
tent fo  oppose  any  measure  or  measures  of  the  govemmeni  oj  the  United 
Slates,  which  are  or  shall  be  directed  Lt/  proper  authority,  or  to  im. 
pede  the  operation  of  any  late  oj"  the  United  States,  or  to  iiitimidalt-  or 
jiifvenl  any  (tersuii  holiiint;  a  place  or  uffi<'e  in  or  under  the  {{OVfrn- 
Mient  c»f  the  Uniled  States,  from  undertaking,  pcrforiuin};,  orexecnt- 
iug  Lis  trust  or  duly  ;   and  if  any  person  or  persons,  with  intent  as 


*  It  is  but  justice  to  avow  that  the  writer  of  this  hook  was  aa 
itrdtht  in  his  opposition  to,  and  as  much  alarmed  al  the  probable 
consequences  of,  Mie  alien  and  sedition  laws,  a>  any  man  in  Ibe  com- 
munity As  it  requires  an  exlraordiiiarv  de;;ree  of  corporeal  sanity 
to  resist  the  cflects  of  a  violent  epulemical  disorder  :  so  it  requires 
great  sliena;th  of  mind  to  k»cp  out  of  tl»e  vortex  of  factious  coiita* 
Rion,  v*hen  prevalent  with  those  whose  opinions  are  generally  conge- 
nial with  our  own.  Of  this  strength  of  mind  the  viriler  was  desti- 
tute, in  common  with  a  large  poriiou  of  his  feltow^citizeiiB. 


28 


THE    OLIVE    BRANCir. 


Mi 


)    I 


p. 


iiforcsaiil,  sliall  roiinsel,  advise  or  attempt  to  prorure  any  iiisurrcr- 
lioii,  riot,  uiiiasvi'ul  asscniltly,  or  cumbiiiatioii,  whetlier  surh  roiis|ii- 
rncy,  tlire;i(eiuii;^,  coiwisc!,  tuivice,  or  attempt  sliaii  have  the  proposed 
tflc'ct  or  not,  In;  or  Jiuy  sh.ill  be  deemed  piiilty  of  a  tiiijh  iiiisde- 
meaiinr  ;  and  oa  coiivk  tion,  before  any  court  of  tlie  United  States 
liavjjii^  jurisdirtiun  thircof,  sh:ill  be  punished  by  a  fine  not  exned- 
inv  hve  tlionsand  dollars,  and  by  imitrisonnient  dnrinv  a  term  not 
]c8s  than  SIX  nionths,  nor  exeeedint;  five  >e<irs  ;  and  further,  at  the 
discretion  of  the  court,  maybe  holden  to  find  sureties  fur  his  or  iheif 
good  behaviour  ia  such  sum,  and  for  such  time,  as  the  said  court 
may  direct. 

"  Sec  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  if  any  person  shall 
write,  priiit,  utter  or  publish,  or  shall  cause  or  procure  to  be  uril- 
teii,  printed,  uttered  or  pubiised,  or  shall  knowingly  and  willingly 
assist  or  aid  in  writing,  pnnling,  uttering  or  publishini;  any  false, 
tcmxhilowi  and  malicious  tfri/ing  or  xo^iting^  agaimt  flte  government  of 
t/ie  Lnitcd  States,  or  either  house  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  Stales, 
or  the  President  of  the  United  Slates,  with  intent  to  defame  the  said 
government,  or  ctlher  house  of  the  said  Congress,  or  the  said  Pre- 
sident, or  to  bring  them,  or  either  of  them,  into  contempt  or  dis- 
repute  ;  or  to  excite  against  them,  or  either  or  any  of  them,  the 
hatred  of  the  good  people  of  the  United  States,  or  to  stir  up  sedi- 
tion within  the  United  Stu'es  ;  or  to  excite  any  unla-.vfiil  combina- 
tions therein,  for  o|)posing  or  resisting  nay  law  of  the  United  States, 
or  any  act  of  the  president  of  the  United  States,  done  in  pursuance 
of  any  such  law,  or  of  the  powers  in  him  vested  by  the  constitution 
of  the  United  States  ;  or  to  resist,  oppose,  or  dcA'at  any  such  law 
or  net  ;  or  to  aid^  encourage  or  abet  anij  hostile  designs  of  any  foreign 
jiation  against  the  United  States,  (heir  people  or  government,  I  hen  such 
person,  being  thereof  convicted  before  any  court  of  the  United 
States  having  jurisdiction  thereof,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  not  ex- 
ceeding two  thousand  dollurs,  and  by  imprisoumeat  not  exceeding 
two  years. 

*'  Sec.  3.  ^nd  be  it  further  enacted  and  declared.  That  if  any  pcrsoil 
shuW  be  prosecuted  under  this  act,  for  the  writing  or  publishing  any 
libel  as  aforesaid,  it  shall  he  lauful  for  the  defendant,  upon  the  trial  of 
the  cause,  to  give  in  evidence  in  his  defence,  the  truth  of  the  matter  con- 
tained m  the  publication  charged  as  a  libel.  And  the  jury  who  shall  try 
the  cause,  shall  have  a  rigat  to  determine  the  law  and  the  fact,  un- 
der the  direction  of  the  court,  as  in  other  cases. 

"Sec.  4.  And  be  it  further  {enacted.  That  this  act  shall  continue 
and  be  in  force  until  the  third  day  of  March,  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  oae,  aad  no  longer:  Provided,  that  the  expiration  of 
the  act  shall  not  prevent  or  defeat  a  prosecution  and  punishment  ot: 
any  ofi'cnce  against  the  law,  during  the  time  it  shall  be  in  force." 
July,   1798. 

Tlie  fate  of  this  law  holds  out  an  all- important  Icf- 
foii  on  faction  and  party  fpirit.  Laudable  and  necefTary, 
ris  it  was,  and  guarded,  as  far  as  a  law  can  be  guard- 


THE   OLIVE   BRANCK. 


M$ 


ed,  agalnft  abufe,  tl  -  oppofition  to  it  was  carried  to  as 
•Treat  an  exccTs,  ami  it  excited  as  much  horror  and  in- 
dignation, as  iF  it  had  wholly  deflroycd  the  liberty  ot 
the  prefs,  and  "  Icfi  not  a  trace  behind.'*  And  in  this 
lenfelefs  and  difgraceful  clamour,  were  engaged  vail 
numbers  ot  the  bcft  and  mod  intelligent  men  ot  tlie 
community.  The  Alien  and  Sedition  Laws  were  made 
the  fnbjcrt  ot  an  elegant,  but  violent  and  inflammatory 
report,  agreed  to  by  the  legitlature  of  Virginia,  as  re- 
refpcftable  and  enlightened  a  deliberative  body  as  any  in 
the  Uiijjfd  States,  or  perhaps  in  tlie  world.  But  they 
were  bitten  by  the  mad  dog  ot  ta^iion  in  common  with 
fo  large  a  portion  of  their  fellow  citizens,  and  were 
feized  with  the  prevalent  diforder.  They  regarded  the 
two  obnoxious  laws,  as  inroads  upon  public  liberty,  that 
required  to  be  repelled  with  the  utmoft  firmnefs. 

It  would  be  uncandid  not  to  flate,  that  the  trials  under 
this  a£t,  for  libels  againfl  the  prefident,  and,  as  far  as  mv 
recolledion  ferves  me,  again il  fomc  ot  the  other  public 
lun^hionaries,  were  managed  with  very  confidern!>le  rig- 
our;  and  from  the  abufe  ot  the  law,  tended  to  give  an 
appearance  of  propriety  and  juflice  to  the  clamour  againfl 
it.  The  cafes  of  Thomas  Cooper  and  Matthew  Lyon, 
Efcjrs.  who  were  both  treated  with  remarkable  fcveritv, 
excited  a  high  degree  ot  fympathy  in  the  public  mind. 
I  hivc  ftrong  doubts,  whether  under  all  the  circumflanccs, 
a  jury  could  be  found  in  London  to  pronounce  a  verdi^fc 
of  "  guilty"  againft  either  of  them.  Of  the  two  cafes,  it> 
may  be  juflly  faid — fummu?u  jiis^  summa  injuria.  But- 
the  ccnfure  did  not  attach  to  the  law.  It  lay  at  the  dooF 
of  the  juries. 

I  have  little  to  fay  refpefllng  the  alien  law.  It  wa,<? 
liable  to  flrong  objeftions.  It  inveftcd  the  prefident- 
with  powers  that  might  be  much  abufed.  But  it  certainly 
never  warranted  the  awful  outcry  that  was  raifed  againft 
it.  To  enable  the  reader,  however,  to  form  his  own 
opinion — and,  if  mine  be  erroneous,  to  reje6l  it  alto- 
gether, Ian  '\x  the  moll  obnoxious  claufe  of  the  aff. 
3* 


.U* 


30 


THE    OLIVE   BRAKCH. 


!  ■! 


I1:M 


lU 


Sec.  1.     "Be  if 


of  I  he  United  S/ales  nf  Aiiieriai,  in  ( 


emcfed  b;^  (he  Sprtad'  and  House  of  Hepresantalues 


ovonss  assembled,  Th.il  it  sihall  he 


Jaw  Jill  for  Mic  PiCHidtnl  «(t  llie  Unit<«l  SiaH-s  at  any  lime  tlm  ins  »l> 
coiitiiniai.reof  this.  ucJ,  looKfci  all  siuli  aliens  ns  he  sliall  jiidut  flaii- 
geioiis  to  Ihf  |)e.i«:e  and  siiffty  of  llio  United  SlaUB,  or  Mliall  have 
itasonahle  jrionnds  to  susjuct  an- conccrntd  in  any  tM  asonahU?  or 
secret  uia(  hinati»ns  ai^ainst  the  goveininent  Uieieof,'lo  dtpart  otit  of 


the  lernloiy  oftlte  United  Stat 


es,  williin  Kneh  lime  as   shall  l)e  ex- 


pressed in  sneh  order  ;  whirli  order  shall  ho  served  on  snch  alien  by 
deliverinij  him  a  eopy  thereof,  or  ieavinjithe  same  at  hia  iu;nal  abode, 
and  returned  to  ihe  olH«  e  of  Ihe  secretary  of  slate,  by  the  marshal  or 
other  person  to  v\  liom  tlie  same  shall  be  direc'ed.  And  in  rase  any 
alien  so  ordered  to  depart,  shall  be  found  at  iarse  within  the  United 
States  utter  the  time  limited  in  such  order  for  his  departure,  and  not 
havina;  obtained  a  license  from  the  president  to  reside  tiierein,  or  hav- 
ing obtained  such  /ifen*eshall  nnt  have  conformed  Iherelo,  every  sneli 
alien  shall,  on  conviction  thereof,  be  imprisoned  for  a  term  noi  ex- 
eeeduifij  three  years,  and  shall  never  after  be  ndmilled  to  become  a 
citizen  of  the  United  Slates  Provided  always,  and  be  it  further  enacted, 
Th.t  if  any  alien  so  ordered  to  dep;ir!,  shall  prove  to  the  satisfaction 
of  Ihe  president  by  evidence  to  be  taken  before  snch  person  or  per- 
sons as  the  president  shall  direct,  who  are  for  tiiat  purpose  hereby 
authorized    to  administer  oaths,  that    no   injury    or   danger  to  Ihe 


United  Stales   will  arise  fi 


the 


rom  sunenntj;  such  alien  to  rest 


lii 


ide  li 


lertin. 


president  may  grant   a  license  to  such  alu  n  to  remain  within  the 


United  Stales,  for  such  a  time  as  he  shall  judj^e   proper,  and  at  such 
place  as  he  may  desi^jnale      And    the  presidrnt   may  also  require  of 


SU( 


h   al 


ien  to  enter  into  a  bond  to  the  United  Slates,  in  such  penal 
sum  as  he  ni;iy  direct,  with  one  or  more  sufficient  snrelits  to  Ihe  sat- 
isfaction of  the  person  Hutl.orised  by  Iht-  president  to  lake  »he  same, 
♦  onditiontd  for  the  good  behaviour  of  such  alien  duriiHj;  Ins  residence 
in  tlie  United  Stilea,  and  not  violating  his  license  ;  which  license  the 
presid*  nt  may  revoke,  w  heuever  he  shall  think  proper." 
JulyQ,  1798. 


.  f 


I  ' 


*^. 


The  eight  per  cent,  loan  remains.  It  was  united  with, 
and  increaffcd  the  clamour  againft  the  alien  and  fedition 
laws  ;  and  thefe  three  obnoxious  meafures,  as  I  have  al- 
ready obferved,  precipitated  the  federalifts  from  power. 
Yet  we  have  fince  found  that  their  fucceffors,  the  demo- 
crats, have  themfelves  given  a  greater  interefl  than  eight 
per  cent.  This  would  afford  a  glorious  triumph  to  fecle- 
ralifm  over  her  inveterate  rival,  democracy,  were  it  not 
that  the  annals  cf  the  former  can  furnifh  many  inflanccs 
ot  {itTjilar  fiailty,  and  inconfiflency,  and  departure  from 
proieffions.  And  it  is  a  melancholv  truth,  that  the  hifto- 
lies  of  all  the  parties  and  factions  that  have,  fiiice  govern- 


THE   OtlVE    BRANCH. 


at 


ment  fii  ft  bcfran,  curfed  and  fcourgcd  mankind  by  tlieir 
I'enfclefs,  cnvcMiomcd,  and  implacable  lioHilities,  aie  re- 
plete with  Inftaiices  oF  errors  equally  diltvracetul  and  dif- 
lioiiourablc.  A  hiHory  ot  the  madnef:-:.  tiie  h)l!v,  and  the 
depravity  ot  party  and  taction,  is  a  grand  dcfideratum. 


Juii*s  Treaty. 


The  oppofition  to  this  inflrument,  which  pervaded  the 
imion,  and  greatly  diftnrbed  the  adminiftration  ot  Gen. 
W^ihington,  was  a  faBious  procedure  on  the  part  ot  the 
democrats,  who  were  led  away  by  objections,  piautible, 
but  not  fubftantial — hardly  one  of  which  has  been  realiz- 
ed. This  affair  evinces  the  tollv  and  dangci  ot  yielding 
to  the  fudden  iinpidfes  of  national  teeling,  wiiich  bear 
down  every  thing  betore  them,  and  which  wholly  over- 
])t)\\'erthe  reafon  and  underftanding  ot  even  the  wife  and 
good,  wlio  quoad  hoc  are  omy  on  a  level  with  tiie  mc.fl 
nnintormed  and  uncultivated  part  ot  the  comniunitv. 
Nearly  all  the  predictions  refpefting  this  treaty  have  been 
the  foothfayings  ot  talfe  prophets,  ot  men  fome  led  aftray 
by  their  prejudices — others  by  purturbcd  imaginations. 
Such  ot  them  as  have  been  realized,  have  been  more  tlian 
counterbalanced  by  the  (olid  advantages  refulting  trom the 
adjufiment  ot  tlie  difTerences  between  the  two  nations. 


Of  the  errors  of  Mr.  Jeff  rson^s  Mministration, 

It  is  unnecefTary  to  mention  more  than  three,  denoting  ' 
two  very  oppolte  extremes  of  charafter — the  one  highly 
bold  and  daring  — tlie  others  difplaying  an  equal  degree  oi 
leebienefs. 


4. 


fe 


f' 


...  Treaty  with  England,  ',   ..    ' 

Two  minifters  appointed  by  Mr.  leflferfon,  had  ncgo- 
ciatea  a  tienty  With  England,  tiie  befl  Uiey  could  procure. 


m 


THE   OLIVE   BRANCl/r 


I: 


It  had  been  tranfmitted  to  him  u)  due  form.  Without 
con{ulting  tlie  co-oidiiiate  biaiicli  oi  the  trcatv-making 
power,  he  on  liis  own  refponfibiUty  reje6tcd  it,  and 
tranfmitted  to  thefe  minifters  inftiu6tions  to  begin  the 
negociation  {/e  novo.  This  was  a  migiity  and  a  latal 
error.*  It  may  be  doubted  wlicther  it  were  not  a  vio- 
lation, at  leaft  ot"  tlie  fpirit  of  the  conftitution.  It  was 
at  all  event*  a  cafe  that  piobai)ly  did  not  enter  into  tlie 
conceptions  of  the  tramers  of  that  inlliument.  If  it 
had,  it  is  likely  they  would  have  provided  againit  its  oc- 
currence. 

A  calm  refleftion  on  this  fiibjcR  can  hardly  fail  to  con- 
vince the  reader  that  probably  to  this  fource  may  be  fair- 
hf'  traced  nearly  all  our  prei'ent  difficulties.  Had  this 
treaty  been,  as  it  ought  to  have  been,  laid  before  the  Sen- 
ate, they  woMid  in  all  likeliiiood  have  ratified  the  chief 
parts  of  it,  and,  as  had  been  the  cafe  with  Jay's  treaty, 
have  referred  the  obnoxious  claufes  to  a  new  difcullion  ; 
our  difputes  with  England  would  have  been  thus  com- 
promifed — and  our  party  divifions  could  never  have  been 
excited  to  fuch  a  height  as  to  endanger  the  peace  and 
fecuiity  of  the  country. 

It  has  been  inferred  from  the  rejeftion  of  this  treaty, 
that  it  arofe  from  Mr.  Jefferfon's  defirc  of  a  caufe  of  war 
with  England.  This  is  radically  wrong.  At  no  period 
fince  the  commencciTient  of  the  French  revolution  has 
there  been  a  deficiency  of  a  real  cause  of  war  with  Eng- 
land, in  the  imprefTment  of  our  feamen,  and  the  violent 
proceedings  againft  our  commerce.  But  a  pregnant 
proof  of  the  fallacy  of  this  charge  arifes  out  of  the  at- 
tack of  the  Leopard  on  the  Chefapeake.  Tliis  circum- 
ftance  fettles  the  que  (lion  forever.  Had  Mr.  Jeflferfon 
been  defirous  of  a  war  with  England,  nothing  more  was 
iiccelTary  than  to  have  convened  congrefs  immediately 
after  that  event,  during  the  extraordinary  ebullition  of 

*  A  palliatioH  of  this  error  mny  be  fonnd  in  llic  rirnimstance, 
that  the  nf!i;oriatois  had  riolatcd  one  explicit  ilcni  of  !Mr  Jrffersou's 
iastrnctions — loronclixlc  no  treaty  without  a  s'^u'citic  nrlicle  guard- 
ing against  imprc&sments. 


, ,  f 


|t.v- 


The  olive  branch. 


33 


flie  public  mind  which  it  created,  All  parties  were  then 
cidinorous  for,  and  would  have  heaitlly  united  in  a  war. 
And  war  would  certainly  have  been  declared  by  congrefs 
almoft  unanimoufly.  But  with  a  defiie  ot  peace,  de- 
ferving  of  the  higheft  praife  and  gratitude  of  his  coun- 
try, which  he  has  never  received,  he  deteired  the  con- 
vening of  congrefs  about  four  months,  within  which 
period  the  public  ferment  had  fubfided.  This  important 
fdft  is  wholly  overlooked  in  the  fa61:ious  difcuffions  that 
have  taken  place  refpefting  his  adminiftration  ;  fo  true  it 
is,  that  in  times  of  turbulence,  reafon  raifes  her  voice  in 
vain.  It  is  drowned  in  the  obllrepeVous  brawlings  of 
uoify  faftionifts. 

The  justice  vvhich  leads  to  this  vindication,  compels 
me  unqualifiedly  to  ccnfure  the  very  extraordinary  and 
unprecedented  meafure  of  rejecting  the  treaty  on  his 
own  refponfibility. 

Befides  the  want  ot  an  explicit  claufe  on  the  fubjefl 
of  imprefTment,  the  friends  of  Mr.  JefFerfon,  allign 
another  plea  to  juflify  him  for  the  rejection  of  this  treaty. 
After  it  was  figned  by  both  parties,  there  was  a  rider  an- 
nexed to  it  by  the  Britifh  commiilioncrs,  which  went  to 
give  the  treaty-iantlion  to  the  celebrated  orders  in  coun- 
cil, which  then,  it  would  appear,  were  in  contemplation. 

To  enable  the  reader  to  decide  corre6lIy,  I  annex  the 
rider. 

NOTE 
Of  the  British  Commissioners  accompanying  J\Ionroe  and 

Finckney's  treaty. 

London,  Dec.  31,  i9o6. 

"  The  undersigned,  Henry  Richard  Vassel,  lord  llollaiid,  ai>d  Wil- 
tiam  lord  Aukland,  plenipotentiaiies  of  his  Britonnic  majesty,  have 
the  honor  to  inform  James  Monroe  and  William  Pinckney,  commis- 
sioners extraordinary  and  plenipotentiaries  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  that  they  are  now  ready  to  proceed  to  the  signature  of  the 
treaty  of  amity,  commerce  and  navigation,  on  the  articles  of  which 
they  have  mutually  agreed. 

"  But  at  the  same  time  they  have  it  in  command  from  his  majesty, 
to  rail  the  attention  of  the  commissioners  of  the  United  States  (o 
ftODie  extraordinary  proceeding!  which  have  lately  taken  place  on  the- 


.«fev 


l1?*'%»*- 


"X 


itt 


34 


THE   OLIVE    BRANCH. 


r: 


Ml 


;'i      ■ 


M 


l^r 


I  ■\  ■ 


continent  of  Cnropp,  and  tu  comninnirate  to  tlicni  oHicially   the  sen* 
titncnisuf  his  in:ij»-sty'K  i;ovfi  ntncut  iliiicnpun 

'^  1  he  |>ru<  ('t-diiitjb  ulludt  tl  lo  i<i  c  ci  rluin  tJctlninlinns  und  ordvrs  of 
the  Fii-nt-lt  <^ov<'i  nint'ul  ls^ilUll>lt  Ik-tlin  on  (jii-;^is(  olNovomlicr  las!. 

'*  In  (liosc  orders,  llie  i'tencli  tioveinmcut  t«eeki4  lo  jtisiify  or  pah' 
nte  its  own  unjntii  pielcntionN,  by  iinpntin);  to  Cireal  Linluin  piinci* 
pies  vvhuli  she  never  pioTeKiJed,  und  praelic*  h  Mliieii  never  exisJed. 
Ilia  ni.ijeiity  is  uecuscd  uf  a  sysleuiHlie  und  Kenernl  disie^ard  of  ilic 
law  of  njtions,  reeon;nized  by  civilixed  Htateii,  and  more  particularly  of 
an  nnvvHrranl.tble  cxtentionof  llie  richt  o(  bloek;i<te;  uhereuN  /li.s  ma- 
Jcsti/  iiuiij  conjiittutly  appeal  to  the  world  on  his  uniform  respect  to  nenhal 
ri-ihts,  und  htf  y:everal  und  scivpulous  ndhireiice  to  the  law  o/  nations,  v*uh. 
out  cot  (icscriKii'.ig  to  conlras*  bis  eoniinet  iii  liuse  purticulurH  uiili 
that  ot'liiseHeiiiy  :  and  with  i«'(>ar<l  tu  ibeonly  Kpeeitii'd  cliait>e, // I'j 
notorious  that  he  has  nevet  declared  any  posts  to  he  in  m  state  of  blockade, 
without  allotting  to  that  object  a  force  su^cient  to  make  the  entrance  into 
them  manifestly  dunnerous. 

*'  By  sntb  atUf^aituns,  unfonniled  as  they  are,  the  enemy  attempts 
to  jnfttity  his  pretentions  of  eonlisealin;!;  as  luwfnl  prize,  all  produce 
vt  Eii^libli  industry  or  niaiint'at  hue  (hou^h  il  be  the  properly  of 
ueulials  ;  of  exclndinu  finnt  his  harhnrs  evfry  iieutra!  vesKtl,  which 
has  (oiichetl  at  uny  port  of  his  mnjesiy's  doniniioiiH,  ihouj^h  employed 
ill  an  innocent  comnitrre,  and  of  deriannu  Gieat  Bui.iin  to  be  in  a 
stale  of  blockade,  i  houuh  Inaown  naval  poi  ts  and  aiseiials  are  actually 
b'oc  kade«l  ;  and  he  is  unable  to  station  uny  naval  force  whatever, 
befoie  any  port  of  ihe  niiitt  d  kniifdom. 

"  8iich  pnitciplea  are  in  iheinselvcs  exlrava<;nnt  and  repntinant  to 
llie  law  of  uiitioni:  ;  und  the  prelciilions  funndrd  on  thtin,  though 
jirofcBstdly  directed  soli-ly  uuainsi  (jieat  Bntii.',  lend  lo  alter  the 
|)rac' icf  o:  wi-.r  auwiii!;  civiitztd  nations,  andiiKerly  lo  Hubvert  the 
lip^hts  and  indcpir.denre  of  neutral  powers  The  niideiBigned  can- 
not,  tlicri  foie,  lulieve  that  ilie  eneiry  will  ever  seriously  attempt  to 
vafoKC  stub  a  ><ybtcu^  it'  he  sliomd,  ihey  are  coiitideni  that  the 
good  sense  of  liu"  Anjcrican  {joverninent  will  peireive  the  fatal  oon- 
seqnrnces  of  su<  h  prelenlinns  to  neutral  commerce,  und  that  its 
spirit  and  re;;ard  lo  national  honour  will  prevtnt  its  acquiest'^nee  in 
sueii  palpuble  riolalions  of  its  ri>;hts,  and  injuiiousenchroachments 
on  it^  inteiesis 

*'  If,  however,  the  enemy  should  carry  these  threats  into  execution^ 
and  if  neutral  nations,  contrary  to  all  expeelniions,  should  acquiesce 
ill  su<'h  nsnrpalioiiE,  his  majesty  micht  probably  be  cornpeDeii,  how> 
we*  reUu  tniit  ly,  to  letaliate  in  his  just  defence,  and  to  adopt,  in  re- 
gard to  the  eonimeice  of  m-ulral  nations  with  his  enemies,  the  same 
Dieasnres  which  thoie  nations  shall  have  permitted  to  be  enforced 
atritinst  their  commerce  with  Ins  subjects.  The  commissioners  of 
the  United  States  will  therefore  feel,  thai  at  a  moment  when  hia 
majesty  and  all  neutral  nations  are  thteatened  with  such  an  exi  ension 
oj'  the  belligerent  pretensums  ^  his  enemies,  lie  cannot  enter  iu'o  the 
81  ipnlaiioiiS  uf  iUe  pneent  treaty,  wiiboui  explanation  from  *he 
tJniied  St.tus  of  iheir  intentions,  or  a  reservation  on  the  part  of  hi* 
majesty  iu  the  case  abuvc  mcntioued,  if  it  should  ever  occur. 


*.- 


THE    OLIVB    BHAXCU. 


35 


Mally  Ihc  Ben. 


'*T1ic  unJcrsignrd,  roiiRi«loriiii;  llint  the  diatnnce  of  tlio  Ameriraii 
goveriinuiil  hmhIcis  any  iiniiirHiiiU'  «-xplaiiulioii  «ii  iliis  ■iihj<'ct 
j,ij|,ossil)i< ,  iiiul  Hiiimiileii  by  a  «1c8iii>  of  i(>iwai(iiii|;  tlir  iit-iichciul 
work  Ml  »l»i«l»  ihfy  uit*  eiiKHgifl,  urr  authorisfd  by  hiN  mtiji-sty  lo 
coiiilud*"  the  tieuly  witlmHi  »J>  lay  Tliry  piocci-d  (a  the  signature 
tirxliT  Die  full  peismtsioii  llii.l  before  the  Ireitly  Mlinll  be  iiliiiiied 
from  Anieriea  «iJh  Hie  ralili'  "'loii  of  ihe  Uuiletl  Siales,  the  emiiiy 
will  either  liave  formally  ..>ii<loiied  or  taeilly  relinquished  Ins  un- 
just pietensinns,  or  (bal  ibr  gnvfi-iimenl  of  the  United  States  tiy  its 
condtKl  or  assuianeeN,  will  bavt- given  steurify  lo  bis  majesty  that 
it  will  not  submit  to  sueb  itiiiovalions  in  the  eslublisbed  system  of 
niuritiine  law  :  and  the  niiclersi^rned  have  presented  this  note  from 
an  anxiDiis  wish  that  it  should  be  clearly  under  ilood  uii  both  aides, 
that  without  Huehaii  abiiiidoiiment  on  Ihe  part  of  the  enemy,  or  sueh 
condu«t  oil  the  p;irl  of  Ihe  United  Slates,  hi.<>  maje.ity  ivi/l  not  cormi- 
tier  himself  bound  by  the  prpsenf  srnnature  qf  his  commissioners  to  tulifif 
ihe  t  reati/y  or  ptecludvd  from  adopting  such  measures  as  r.iai/  seem  necessary 
I  Jor  counleracling  t  'le  desions  of  his  enemy 

"  The  uiidi  i8ig[ned  cannot  conclude  without  expressins;  their  sat- 
isfaction on  the  pros.p»ct  of  ucconiplisliin.;  an  object  so  impoitant 
to  the  interests  and  friendiv  cnnneclion  of  both  nalioiid,  and  their 
just  wense  of  the  conciliiitory  disposition  mnnifested  by  ib^  commis- 
Rioiiers  of  the  United  Slates  during  Ihe  whole  course  of  the  nego. 
ciatioii 

(-Signed;  VASSAL  HOLLAND- 

AUKLAiND. 

To  Jamps  ^^onroe,  S;c.  ^c.  S^c. 
\y'tlUam  PincAney,  ^c.  S^c.  ije. 


i 


However  exceptionable  the  terms  of  this  note  may  be, 
I  cannot  perfuadc  myfeU  that  it  jiilifies  the  r(j -rtion  ot 
the  treaty  without  confulting  ti;e  Senate.  Men  o\  pnw- 
ertul  minds  defend  the  procedure.  Their  arguments 
have  never  convinced  me.  To  the  reader's  judgment  I 
fubmit  the  fubjeft. 


Separation  of  the  States. 

The  next  error  of  Mr.  JefTerfon's  adminiftratlon,  in- 
volves a  great  negleft  of  duty.  Durinoj  nearly  the  whole 
of  that  period,  the  infurieftional  and  treafonable  doc- 
trine ot  a  reparation  of  the  ft.itcs,  was  [jublicly  advo- 
cated in  fomc  ot  the  Gazettes  to  the  eallward,  and,  won- 


MM.>eriB%llkJI:.' 


THE    OLIVE   BRANtll. 


* 


(letriil  and  Ihamcfiil  to  tell,  preached  fVotn  the  pulprr 
'I'licfc  publications  and  fcrmons,  having  a  direct  tenden- 
cy to  the  deftrntlion  ot  foclal  order,  and  the  introduc 
tion  ot  civil  war,  demanded  the  fcvere  animadverfion  ot 
tlie  law  offu  ers  of  the  government.  It  was  the  incum- 
bent duty  of  the  Piefident  to  have  had  the  laws  put  in 
lorcc  to  reprefs  the  offences,  and  to  punifti  the  offenders. 
And  it  there  were  no  law  to  reach  the  offence,  he  ought 
to  have  fubniitted  the  cafe  to  congrefs,  for  the  purpofc 
of  fupplying  the  deleft.  A  re-ena6lment  and  entoice- 
ment  of  the  fedition  law  was  loudly  called  for.  And  the 
good  fenfe  of  the  nation  would  have  fupported  a  meafure 
wiiich  the  i)ublic  welfare  rendered  fo  neccffary.  It  may 
he  fauly  averred  that  there  is  no  country  in  the  world 
but  the  United  States,  in  which  an  open  attempt  to  lub- 
vcit  the  government,  and  tear  down  the  pillars  of  focie- 
ty,  would  have  efcaped  condign  Dunifhment.  Every 
lociety  ought  to  poffcfs  within  itfelf,  and  to  exercife 
wiicn  occafion  calls  lor  it,  the  fundamental  principle  of 
lelf  prefervation. 

It  is  impofTible  to  cenfure  too  highly  the  error  here 
adverted  to.  The  jeopardy  in  which  the  nation  is  now 
placed — when  our  nearefl;  and  dcareft  interefts  are  in  the 
mofl  imminent  danger,  may  he  fairly  afcribed  to  this 
moll  fatal  and  pernicious  mifconduft.  In  every  fcience 
theie  are  fomc  great,  leading  truths  which  cannot  be 
controvei  ted.  And  in  political  economy  there  is  no 
maxim  more  indubitable,  than  this,  that  treason  cannot 
be  prop'itiated  by  forbearance.  And  never  fmce  the 
■world  was  formed  did  a  confplracy  meet  with  the  fame 
degree  of  impunity.  Our  Palinurus  flept  at  the  helm. 
The  mutineers  had  full  fcope  for  their  aftivity.  They 
made  their  arrangements  at  leifure,  as  undiftuibedly  as 
if  they  were  engaged  in  promoting  the  falvation  of  the 
ftate.  To  whatever  caufe  this  negleft  may  be  afcrihcnl, 
whether  to  torpor,  ina6tivity,  oi  reliance  on  the  good 
fenfe  of  the  nation,  it  calls  an  indelible  (lain  on  the  ad- 
miniflratipn  of  Mr.  Jefferfon. 


\ 


■m. 


jV 


^ 


•..^ 


THE  OLIVE   BnAN'eil. 


ar 


Tlic  Idft.  of  tlic  errors  ot"  his  adminillratlon  which  I 
Hiall  notice,  ariles  irom  liis  neglcd  ot  cntorcing 


jTAe  Embargnf 

Which  was  a  moll  efficient  weapon  for  prorurlnjt 
icdrds  horn  Enghind.  Its  cfFcHs  upon  her  colonics  by 
privations  ot  the  necoirnies  ol  lile — and  upon  her  trade 
and  naval  power,  by  witldiolding  fupplies  ot  raw  mate- 
rials and  naval  llores,  were  very  confiderable.  And  had 
it  been  duly  entorced,  as  was  the  duty  ot  the  chiet  ma- 
gillrate,  it  could  hardly  have  tailed  to  impel  the  Britilh 
to  relinquifh  thofe  pretenfions,  which  fo  highly  and  per- 
nicioully  infringed  our  rights.  But  it  was  openly  and 
flagitioufly  violated,  and  of  conrfc  its  intended  operation 
on  England  utterly  counterafted.  It  became  a  mere 
brutum  fill  men.  Its  effefts  on  this  country  were  highly 
pernicious.  While  it  curtailed  the  bufinefs  and  profits 
ot  the  tair  trader,  It  enabled  fmugglers,  and  thofe  who 
fct  the  laws  of  their  country  at  defiance — whofe  god 
was  gain,  to  make  rapid  and  unhallowed  tortunes.  In 
a  word,  it  facrificed  the  interefls  of  fome  of  the  beft, 
to  tiiofe  of  the  very  word  members  of  the  commimity. 
In  proportion  as  a  citizen  held  the  laws  facred — in 
proportion  as  he  honeftly  yielded  them  obedience — in 
the  fame  proportion  did  he  facrifice  his  intcrefts.  And 
by  this  political  arithmetic^  in  proportion  as  a  citizen 
difregarded  the  law — in  proportion  as  he  facrificed  the 
public  intereft  to  his  thirft  of  gain — in  the  fame  pro- 
portion did  he  aggrandize  himlelf.  The  export  trade, 
which  was  fraudulently  carried  on  to  a  confiderable  ex- 
tent, was  wholly  in  the  hands  of  perfons  of  tiie  latter 
defcription.  Their  veffels  laden  with  abundant  fupplies 
for  the  Britilh  colonies,  were  very  conveniently  driven 
to  fea  by  we  Iter ly  winds,  and  forced  into  the  Weft 
Indies. 


29 


1  lie  OLIVK    BIIANCII. 


'it 


It  lins  been  faitl,  in  viiulication  of  Mr.  JcfTciTon,  that 
he  had  not  riilHcicnt  power  to  enforce  the  execution  oi 
this  law.  Ihis  in  utterly  incorre6l  His  powers  were; 
amply  adequ.ite  for  tliis  purpofe.  But  even  if  this  de- 
fence were  valid,  it  exhoner.ites  him  not  from  the  high 
degree  of  cenhirc  attached  to  this  dereliction  of  duty. 
He  ought,  in  that  cafe,  to  have  dated  the  dcfefk  to  cou- 
grefs,  who  had  the  power  ol  applying,  and  undoubtedly 
at  his  recpiifuion  would  have  ap|)lied  a  remedy. 

Be  (ides  the  non-enforcement  of  the  embargo  aft, 
there  was  a  radical  error  committed  by  the  government 
in  continuing  it  fo  long.  Its  inadequacy  to  ciTc.tX  the 
purpofe  its  liiends  had  contemplated,  was  fully  ellah- 
liihed.  And,  failing  that,  its  effe^l  was  to  punilh 
ourfelves  for  the  lawlcfs  proceedings  of  others.  It  ought 
to  have  been  confidered  principally  as  a  preparation 
ior  war. 

The  meafure  fubftituted  for  the  embargo,  that  is,  the 
non-intercourfc  with  both  belligerents,  has  been  univer- 
fally  regarded  by  the  democrats  as  a  very  feeble  one,  and 
the  eleventh  congrefs,  which  made  the  change,  has  been 
by  them  on  that  ground  iligmatized  as  weak  and  con- 
temptible. This  is  a  mod  egregious  error.  It  is  incon- 
ceivable how  it  could  have  found  fuch  general  credence. 
The  non-intercourfe  law  was  as  bold,  as  manly,  and  as 
energetic  a  meafure  as  the  annals  of  Chriftendom  can 
produce  for  a  century.  An  infant  nation,  with  five  or 
fix  frigates,  and  a  number  of  gunboats,  forbids  the  en- 
trance into  her  ports,  under  penalty  of  confifcation,  to 
the  veffels  of  the  two  moft  powerful  nations  in  the  world  ; 
the  one  abfolute  by  lard — the  other  by  fea,  and  owning  a 
thoufand  vellels  of  war!  and  this  is,  torfooth,  a  meafure 
dictated  by  imbecility  ! 


Proffered  »^rmistice. 

The  firft  of  the  errors  of  Mr.  Madifon's  adminlftra- 
tion,  that  I  [haW  notice,  will  be  the  refufal  of  the  arrai- 


,;u.r 


THE    OLIVE    BRANCtt. 


39 


ftlcc  offcTcd  by  admiral  Warren,  on  the  istli  ol'  Sep- 
tcnil>^'r,  1812,  nearly  three  months  alter  llie  declaration 
ol  war. 

Never,  probal)ly,  was  war  more  jiift.  Never  liad  a 
country  more  patiently  borne  the  molt  humiliatintr  accu- 
mulation ol  outrajre  and  injury  than  the  United  States 
had  done.  Her  character  had  in  conlequence  fallen  in 
the  ellimation  of  mankind.  She  was  univerlally  prc- 
hinicd  to  be  fo  loft  in  the  fordid  purfuit  of  gain,  as  to 
be  callous  to  outrage,  to  infult,  and  to  contumely.  She 
had  appeared  to  have  lorteited  all  regard  to  fiational 
Jioiiour  and  dignity.  Her  mendicant  amballadors  had 
been  for  years,  in  vain  filing  for  jullice  and  toibcar- 
ance  at  the  portals  ot  St.  James's  palace.  'Ihc  pufil- 
lanimity  of  the  government  had  become  a  fubjcti:  ot 
reproach  to  the  federal  ills — ot  fhanie  to  the  democrats. 
And  it  was  a  bye- word  among  the  oppoiers  of  the 
adniinillration,  that  it  "  could  not  be  kicked  into  war.'* 
It  is  impoini)le  to  forget  the  torrents  of  reproaches 
heaped  upon  the  cabinet  at  Walhington,  on  this  ground, 
'flic  pufillauimity  and  cowardice  of  tlx-  federal  admm- 
iltiation  furnilhed  an  inexhauftible  fund  of  rhetorical 
cinbclliflimcnts  to  flowery  fpeeches  inimmerahle. 

The  declaration  ot  war  was  therefore  as  juft  as  any 
runilar  document  irom  the  days  of  Nimrod.  The  ex- 
pediency of  it  was,  however,  not  fo  clear.  The  rilk 
was  immenfe.  It  was  putting  to  hazard  the  vital  inter- 
cPs  of  eight  millions  of  people,  on  the  very  uncertain 
chances  of  war.  But  let  it  be  obferved,  that  every  argu- 
ment againfl;  this  war,  would  apply  with  nearly  equal 
force  againft  refiftance  to  any  degree  of  infult,  outrage, 
and  injury  from  England ;  for  the  chief  arguments 
againft  its  expediency,  are  predicated  upon  the  immenfe 
naval  power  ot  that  nation,  and  her  confcquent  means 
of  inflifting  incalculable  injury  upon  the  United  States; 
and  whatever  cogency  there  is  in  thefc  arguments,  they 
would  have  the  fame,  let  the  injuries  fuftaincd  be  what 
they  might. 


V 


40 


THE   OLIVE   BRANCtf. 


But  whatever  might  be  the  juftlce,  necefTity,  or  policy 
of  the  war,  wlien  the  orders  in  council  were  repealed, 
and  an  armiftice  offered  by  the  Britilh  government,  it 
was  a  great  error,  not  to  accept  it.  Negociations  for  the 
removal  of  the  reft  of  our  grievances  might  have  taken 
place  ;  and  would  undoubtedly  have  been  conducted 
under  more  favourable  aufpices,  than  thofe  that  preceded 
them  ;  for  England  having  difcovered  that  fhe  had  cal- 
culated too  far  on  our  pairivenels,  would  have  been  far 
more  difpofed  to  do  us  juftice. 

Unfortunately  the  propofition  was  rcjeflcd — a  rejeflion 
pregnant  with  moft  injurious  confequcnces  to  us  and  our 
polterity.* 


*  Candour  and  justice  to  Mr.  Madison  require  that  I  should  stale 
lliat  he  ofl'ered  to  a^^ree  (o  an  armistire  with  Sir  John  Borlase  War- 
ren, on  coiidilion  that  the  practice  of  impressment  should  he  sus- 
■))cndrd  during  tlic  nc^ociation.  From  the  letter  of  the  secretary  of 
state  to  Sir  Joiin  on  tliis  subject,  I  annex  an  extract— 

*•  The  claim  of  the  British  government  is  to  take  from  the  mer- 
f'hant  vessels  of  other  countries,  Biilish  suhjerts.  In  the  practice 
llic  commanders  of  Rrilisii  ships  wf  war  oftcu  take  from  the  mer- 
chant  vessels  of  the  United  Slnles,  American  citizens.  If  the  Unit- 
fd  States  prohibit  the  employmenl  of  British  subjects  in  their  service^  and 
fiforce  the  prohibition  by  suitable  regvlulions  and  penalties^  the  motive  to 
the  practice  is  taken  away.  It  is  in  this  mode  that  the  President  is 
>villiHg  to  accommodate  this  important  cuntiovcrsy  with  the  British 
jjovernmcnt  :  and  it  cannot  be  conceived  on  what  ground  the  sir- 
rangcment  can  be  refused. 

*'  A  suspunsion  of  the  practice  of  impressment,  pending  the  armis- 
tire, seems  to  be  a  necessary  consequence,  llcdiinot  he  presumed, 
uhiie  the  parties  are  ent;aged  in  a  negociatiou  to  adjust  amicably 
this  important  difFereuce,  that  the  United  States  would  admit  tiie 
ii(rht,  or  acquiesce  in  the  practice,  of  the  opposite  party  ;  or  that 
Greit  Britain  would  be  uawillini?  to  restrain  her  cruisers  from  a 
practice  which  would  have  Ihe  strongest  tendency  to  defeat  the  nc> 
l^ociatiun.  It  is  presumable,  that  both  parties  would  enter  into  the 
iiegociatinn  with  a  sincere  desire  to  give  it  t'ftVct.  For  this  purpose 
it  is  necessary  that  a  clear  and  distinct  nndeiNtanding  he  first  ob> 
tained  bctwrcn  them,  of  the  accommodation  which  each  is  prepared 
to  make.  If  the  British  government  is  willing  to  suspentt  the  practice  of 
■iifipressvifnt  front  American  resselSf  on  consideration  that  the  United  States 
zcill  txciude  British  seamen  from  their  seivtce,  the  regulations  by  which  this 
compromiie  shmild  b'  carried  into  effect,  ivouM  be  solely  the  object  of  nego- 
ciation.  1  he  armistice  would  he  of  short  duration.  If  the  parlies 
agreed,  peucG  would  be  Ihc  result.     If  the  negocitilion  failed,  caih 


■^fl,*;.w*^#*v. 


THE    OLIVE   BAANCII, 


4i 


When  the  preceding  article  was  written,  I  had  not 
fufficiently  examined  the  celebrated  repeal,  as  it  is  ftiled, 
of  tiie  orders  in  council,  which  is  very  different  indeed, 
from  what  I.  had  conceived  it.  It  is  liable  to  ftrong 
obje^^Uons,  which  1  believe  have  never  been  fully  ftated, 
and  of  which  the  public  are  not  probably  aware.  To 
enable  the  reader  to  comprehend  my  meaning,  and  to 

would  be  restored  to  its  former  state,  find  to  ali  its  pretentious  by  re- 
curi'iiip:  to  war 

•'  The  Prt'sidcnt  dtsires  that  the  war  which  exists  between  the  twff 
countries  should  be  ferniliiHted  on  such  conditions  as  may  se«  ure  a 
solid  and  durable  peace  To  accomiilisli  tins  great  object,  it  is  nc> 
«.'C8sary  that  the  g[rfat  object  of  imptt'ssmfnt  be  snlisfactoi  ily  arraiig- 
t'd  We  t»  tcUling  that  Great  Driiain  should  be  secured  against  the  eviU  qi-' 
u/iich  shecomplams  Ho  seeks,  on  the  other  baud,  that  ihe  cilizeus  of 
the  (Jiiittd  Stales  should  be  protected  against  a  pru<'li«-e,  whirb, 
vhik  it  dcgiades  the  nuiion,  deprives  them  of  their  rights  as  Jreemen,  takes 
ihem  by  force  from  their  families  and  country  into  a  foreign  service,  to  jight 
the  battles  of  a  foreign  pot$cr,  perhaps  against  their  own  kindred  and 
country  "*  These  (nopusals  were  perfectly  fair  ;\nd  honourHbIc— und 
it  IS  to  be  lamented  that  Sir  J  B  Warren's  powers  wcie  not  exten- 
sive eiioutfii  to  allow  him  to  accept  them  :  but  us  they  were  not  thus 
exlensive,  it  is  cquiilly  to  be  lamented  thai  the  suspension  of  im- 
prrssment  was  iiisiislcd  on. 

As  this  IS  a  most  imporlani  feature  in  our  public  proceedings,  it 
is  proper  to  stale  fuilher,  that  so  sincerely  ilesuous  was  IVIr  Aladihoii 
to  clone  tbe  breach,  that  on  the  2t)th  of  June,  181-.?,  only  eight  days 
after  the  declaraiiou  of  war,  he  auihorised  Mr.  Russcl  to  propose  to 
the  government  of  Great  Britain,  the  same  mode  of  preventing  the. 
grievances  of  which  she  complained,  as  is  above  stated,  and  to  rerHe- 
(ly  which  she  had  recourse  to  impressment  ;  which  was  commuiiicut* 
cd  to  lord  Castiercagh  by  Mr.  Russel,  in  the  following  words  : 

London,  August  24th,  18J5. 

'*  As  an  inducement  to  Great  Britain,  to  discontinue  the  practice 
of  impressment  from  American  vessels,  I  um  authorized  to  give  as- 
sur;uKc,  that  a  law  shall  be  passed  (to  be  reciprocal)  to  prohibit  the 
t'lHployment  of  British  scameu,  in  tbe  public  or  comcierctai  service 
of  the  United  Slates. 

"  It  IS  sincerely  believed,  that  such  an  arrangement  would  prove 
morcetficHcioiis  in  securing  to  Great  Brilain  her  seamen,  than  tbe 
practice  of  impressment,  so  derogatory  to  tbe  sovereign  attributes  of 
the  United  Stales,  and  so  incompatible  with  the  peraoual  rights  of 
licr  citizens.  " 

This  proposition  was  rejected  by  lord  Castlereagh. 

*  McsKiiieof  the  president  to  congress,  Nov.  4,  181S, 

4* 


% 


4,a 


THE    OLIVE    BRANCH. 


form  his  own  opinion  correftly  on  a  point  ol"  fuch 
peat  magnitude,  independent  ot  any  impieiTion  to  be 
jnadc  by  my  (latemcnt,  I  annex  tbe  paragraph  ot  the 
jnftrnment  to  which  1  allude,  as  not  generally  under- 
ilood  : — 

"  His  royal  liigliness  is  hercb}'  plcnsci]  to  rlprlore,  in  the  name  and 
on  the  l)((iulr'of  Ilia  uMJcbty,  that  iioihiiii;  in  this  present  order  etui- 
tuined  shall  be  umierstood  to  |)re<'iiMli-  his  royul  highness  the  pi  ii^ee 
vegcnl,  IF  CIRCUMSTANCKS  SHALL  SO  RLUUIRE,"  [mark 
these  woids,  reader — "  if  circuvislavces  shall  so  Teqviiey'\  "  from  re- 
storing,  after  reas»nahle  noltce,  the  order  of  the  yih  of  January,  ISitJ,  ovd 
nQth  of  April,  IBOQ,  or  any  pari  thereof,  to  their  full  i-ff'ect  ;  OR  from 
taking;  such  other  measurcii  of  reliiiiation  againt:t  the  enemy,  aa  may 
appear  to  his  royal  highness  to  be  just  and  necessary." 

This  cannot  be  denied  to  be  a  moft  extraordinary 
elaufe.  The  prince  regent  has  received  an  authenticated 
document  containing  the  repeal  of  the  Berlin  and  Mi- 
lan decrees,  on  which  he  deems  himfell  bound  to  repeal 
the  orders  in  council.  But  in  the  inftrument  which  he 
jlfues  on  the  fubjeft,  he  exprefsly  referves  the  right  ot 
refloring  them,  "  if  circu7njia7ices  Jliall  Jo  require  :"  and 
ot"  thefe  "  cir cum/lances''  he,  of  courle,  is  to  be  judge. 
Tliefc  "  circumjlanccs"  are  wholly  independent  of  *'  retal- 
iation'''— for  provifion  is  made  in  the  fubfcquent  part  of 
the  paragraph  exprefsly  for  "  retaliation^'*  in  a  diftinft 
tlaufc.  It  therefore  appears  that  the  orders  were  in 
Jlri£l  technical  language  never  repealed — they  were  mere- 
ly Jujpended  till  "  circum fiances  fhould  require"  their 
revival. 

I  trufl;  that  no  candid  reader  will  deny  that  the  above 
is  iair  reafoning,  and  that  this  cannot  be  regarded  as  a 
*'  repeal,"  in  the  fenfe  that  this  nation  had  a  right  to 
cxpeft  the  orders  in  council  to  be  "  repealed"  according 
to  the  Britifh  pledge,  to  proceed  pari  pajfu  with  the 
repeal  of  the  French  decrees.  The  orders  in  council 
might  have  been  "  rejiored"  in  one  month,  alter  the  date 
of  this  inftrument,  according  to  its  tenor,  "  if  arcum- 
Jlance.s  fliould  have  jo  required"  without  our  government 
laving  any  juft  reafon  to  complain  of  breach  ot  faith  on 


KJfe^. 


f  "■»-»*.,.._ 


■,*«'*• 


i5r!-ii|u»«t»^»^:'.v- 


"'^^^' . 


thp:  olive  nnANCH. 


43 


the  part  of  that  of  Great  Britain.  There  never  was  a 
OLiblic  document  more  Criiitioully  worded.  And  had  it 
arrived  here  previous  to  the  dcclaiatioii  oi  war,  this 
country  vvouhl  have  been  perfectly  warranted  in  retulmg 
to  regard  it  as  a  repeal.  To  meet  and  to  fulfil  the  idea 
held  out  in  the  previous  pledges  of  the  Britilh  govern- 
ment, the  repeal  ought  to  have  been  unconditional,  ex- 
cept the  refervation  of  a  right  to  renew  the  orders  in 
council,  in  the  one  fpecific  cafe  of  the  revival  ot  the 
French  decrees. 

It  is  a  remarkable  faft  refpecting  this  repeal,  that  in 
the  debates  in  the  Britilh  parliament  upon  it,  the  wrongs 
inflitted  by  the  orders  in  council  upon  this  country  torm- 
cd  no  part  ot  the  reafons  whereon  the  adoption  of  the 
meafure  was  urged.  Even  Mr.  Brougham,  the  power- 
ful opponent  ot  the  orders,  and  the  main  inflrurnent  of 
carrying  tlie  addrefs  for  their  "  repeal,,''  founded  his  argu- 
guments  wholly  on  the  injurious  efFetis  experienced  in 
England  by  the  lofs  of  our  trade.  It  is  true,  he  once 
j'.nces  at  the  injuftice  ot  the  orders,  but  it  is  very 
u;,  iv  and  merely  incidentally.  He  does  not  come 
f  r\  "I  boldly  and  magnanimoully  to  expofe  them  to 
reprobation  on  the  ground  ot  their  violation  of  our  rights, 
as  Mr.  Baring  had  done  in  his  celebrated  pamphlet. 

But  as  the  prefident  admitted  the  instrument  to  be  a 
repeal,  it  is,  I  repeat,  to  be  deeply  regretted,  that  he 
did  not  accept  the  armifticc,  and  trull  to  fubfequent 
negociation  for  redrefs  on  the  fubjeft  of  imprefsment. 
For  his  admifTion  of  it  in  tiiat  point  of  light,  precludes 
him  from  employing  the  folid  obje6Uon  to  which  it  is 
hable. 


.    'M 


The  appointment  of  Mr,  Gallatin, 

As  minifter  to  treat  with  England,  was  a  very  con- 
fulerable  error.  This  gentleman  has  had  the  reputation, 
probably  with  juftice,  of  being  one  of  the  ableft  finan- 
ciers in  this  country.  For  twelve  years,  he  had  prefi- 
xed over  the  financial   concerns  of  tlie  nation,  during 


mi 


u 


tHR  OLIVE   nP.ANCir, 


whicli  period,  moderate  talents  were  adequate  to  llic 
duties  of  that  ftation.  But  a  crisis  had  arrived  when 
the  abilities  of  a  Colbert,  or  a  Sully,  or  a  Xinicncs 
might  be  neceffary  ;  and  moft  injudicioufly  and  indc- 
tenfibly  he  was  then  difpatched  to  another  hemifphere  ; 
and  the  duties  of  his  office  devolved  ad  interim,  on 
another  officer  whofe  proper  official  duties  require  all 
his  time  and  all  his  talents. 

This  meafurc  was  highly  prepofterous.  It  was  incor- 
rect  in  the  prefidcrit  to  conter,  it  was  equally  inconeft 
in  the  fecrctary  to  receive,  the  appointment.  It  was  the 
less  defenfible  from  the  circumllance  that  nearly  all  the 
fiemccrats  in  the  United  States  had  utterly  difapproved  of 
and  declaimed  again  ft,  the  appointment,  in  1794,  by 
Gen.  Wafhington,  of  judge  Jay,  to  negociate  a  treaty 
AV'ith  Great  Britain,  pending  his  continuance  as  a  judge. 
It  is  moreover  obvious,  that  the  abfence  of  one  judge 
cannot  produce  any  material  inconvenience  ;  as  there 
are  always  others  to  fupply  his  place.  But  there  are 
high  and  rcfponfible  duties  attached  to  the  office  of  fec- 
rctary of  the  treafury,  which  can  never,  without  very 
great  impropriety,  be  devolved  on  a  deputy.  I  pafs 
over  all  but  the  tranfcendent  one  of  remitting  fines  and 
iortcitures,  too  high  a  power  probably  to  be  trufted  to 
any  individual  whatever,  not  excepting  even  a  fecretary 
himfelf.*    , 

^egociation  at   Goitenhurg. 

At  a  period  when  it  was  of  immenfe  importance  t« 
the  United  States  to  clofe  the  war  as  fpeedily  as  poffible, 
the  piefident  had  the  alternative  of  London  or  Gotten- 
burg  as  the  fcene  of  negociation.  We  had  been  unfor- 
tunate by  land,  through  treafon,  incapacity,  or  Tome  other 
caufe.  It  was  our  interelf  to  accelerate — it  was  that  of 
the  Britifli  to  procraflmate  the  negociations.     The  chances 

*  Ser  ihr  luminous  essays  on  this  subject  hy  VV  B  Giles,  Esq. 
wliicli  are  replete  with  Ibe  moil  ceuviocing  and  unanswerable  argu> 
meats. 


•«"■•; 


THE    OLIVE    BRANCH. 


43 


from  delay  were  much  in  their  favour.  War  is,  more- 
over, a  component  part  of  their  fyftem.  Ours  is  calcu- 
lated for  peace.  Thefe  obfervations  acquired  treble 
force  from  a  refleftion  on  the  difaffeftion  of  the  eallern 
portion  of  the  union,  and  its  averfion  to  the  war.  Of 
courfe,  we  ought  to  have  Ihunned  every  thing  that  caufed 
delay.  It  is  therefore  nieft  extraordinary  and  unac- 
countable that  the  prefident  (hould  have  chofen  Golten- 
burg  in  preference  to  London,  under  all  the  obvious 
delays  refulting  from  the  neceflity  that  would  probably 
arife,  or  be  pretended,  to  confult  the  court  of  St.  James's, 
by  the  minifter  of  that  court.  It  appears  almoft  as  ablurd 
as  it  would  be  to  fele6l  the  Havanna,  or  Portroyal,  if  ihe 
negociations  were  to  be  conduced  on  this  fide  of  the 
Atlantic.  This  was  the  more  erroneous,  from  the  con- 
fideration  that  the  fate  of  large  portions  of  our  territory 
and  the  lives  of  hundreds  of  valuable  citizens  might  de- 
pend upon  the  delay  of  a  fingle  day. 

Shortly  alter  the  annunciation  of  the  choice  ot  Got- 
tenburg,  there  was  a  paragraph  publilhed  in  one  of  our 
newspapers,  extrafted  from  the  Courier,  or  Times,  Hat- 
ing that  twenty  mails  were  then  aftually  due  from  that 
place  at  London,  owing  to  the  continued  prevalence  oif 
adverfe  winds.  This  was  an  unanfwerable  proof,  it  any 
wetc  neceffary,  ot  the  impropriety  of  the  choice  ot' 
Guttcnburg. 

Recent  neglect  of  due  Preparations. 

Under  this  head,  the  prefident  and  the  heads  of  de- 
partments are  ftill  more  culpable  than  under  any  of  the 
iormcr  ones. 

From  the  period  of  the  downfall  of  Bonaparte,  and 
the  complete  triumph  of  Great  Britain  and  her  allies,  it 
was  obvious  to  the  nieaneft  capacity  that  her  powers  of 
annoyance  had  increafed  prodigioufly.  The  immenfe 
torces  raifed  to  aid  the  coalition  againil  France  were  li- 
berated from  all  employment  but  againfl  us.     And  oi' 


I 


n 


imiiMn  I II     - 


v 


1^ 


|||i  THE   OLIVE   nnANCK. 

the  difpofition  of  Englcind  to  continue  the  war,  we  had 
tiie  moll  convincing  indications.  The  Biltifh  newfpa. 
peis  were  hlled  witli  denunciations  ot  vengeance  againft 
us,  and  with  ftatements  ot  immcnfe  preparations  tor  our 
chaftifement.  And  to  crown  the  whole — to  remove  all 
poflihlc  doubt  on  the  I'uhjcft — to  deprive  us  and  our  ru- 
lers  of  all  plea  in  juflification  ot  our  torpor,  and  apathy, 
and  negle6t,  an  address  was  publifhed  from  the  lords  ot 
the  admiralty  to  the  navy,  ftating,  as  a  reafon  for  not 
difcharglng  fo  many  feamen  as  the  return  of  peace  in 
Europe  might  have  warranted,  that  a  war  exiiled  with 
this  country  for  the  maritime  rights  of  the  British  Em- 
pire. 


I  '■  H; 


■  ;;. 


*' London,  April  30^  I8I4. 

*' The  lords  commissioners  of  the  admiralty  cannot  annotirire  (a 
the  fleet  the  tetmiiiatioii  of  hostilitiea  with  Fiance  without  express- 
ing to  the  petty  ofiirers,  seamen  and  royal  marines  of  his  majesty's 
ships,  the  hi|{h  sense  which  their  lordships  entertain  of  their  gallant 
and  glorious  services  during  the  late  war.  I'he  patience,  pcrscve> 
ranee,  and  discipline  ;  the  skill,  courage  and  devotion,  with  which 
the  seamen  and  marines  have  upheld  the  besi  interests,  and  achieved 
the  noblest  triumphs  of  our  country,  entitle  them  to  the  gralilnne, 
not  only  of  their  native  land,  which  they  have  preserved  inviolate, 
but  of  the  other  nations  of  £urope,  of  whose  ultimate  deliverance 
their  success  maintained  the  hope  and  accelerated  the  accomplish- 
tnent  Their  lordships  regret  that  the  vkn]»st  ami  unprovo.'ced ai^grts- 
sionojthe  AMERICAN  GOVERNMENT,  in  declaiing  war  upon  this 
country,  after  a//  the  causes  of  its  original  complaint  had  been  removed, 
does  not  permit  them  to  reduce  the  fleet  at  oure  to  a  peace  establish- 
ment ;  but  as  thcqnestion  now  at  is»>ue  in  this  war,  t.t,  the  maintenance 
ttf  those  maritime  rights,  tvhieh  are  the  sure  foundation  of  our  navaf  glory, 
their  lordships  look  witli  confidence  to  that  part  of  the  fleet  which  it 
may  be  still  necessary  tu  keep  in  commission,  for  a  continuance  of 
that  spirit  of  discipline  anti  gallantry,  which  has  raised  the  British 
navy  to  its  present  preeminence.  In  reducing  (he  fleet  to  the  cslab> 
lishment  necessary  for  the  Americamcar,  the  seamen  and  mariners 
Tvill  tind  their  lordship's  attentive  to  theclaims  of  their  rcspectiveservi- 
ces.  The  reduction  will  be  first  made  in  the  crews  of  those  ships  which 
it  may  be  found  expedient  to  pay  o& ;  and  from  them  the  petty  offit  eis 
and  seamen  will  be  successively  discharged,  according  to  the  length 
of  their  services  ;  beginning  in  the  first  instaiice  with  alt  those  who 
were  in  his  miijegty's  service  previous  to  the  7th  of  March,  1803,  ■>nd 
have  since  continued  iu  it.  When  the  rednction  shall  have  been 
thus  mudc,  as  to  the  ships  paid  off,  their  lordships  will  direct  tbclr 


ar— »:>»<»— 


**<-**^i 


n**- 


THE   OLIVE   ERANCII. 


«: 


k^ar,  we  had 
;i{h  newfpa. 
diice  again  ft 
ions  tor  our 
I  remove  all 
and  our  ru- 
and  apathy, 
the  lords  ot 
fon  for  not 
of  peace  in 
xilled  with 
British  Eiii- 


n7  30,  1814. 

t  announre  to 

lliout  expresi- 

f  his  majcsly's 

f  tlieir  gallant 

ienre,  pci-sevs- 

n,    with  whicli 

s,  and  uchifvcd 

ihe  gi-alilnae, 

rvod   inviolate, 

ite  deliverance 

p  accomplish- 

novo.ked  aggrts- 

war  upon  (his 

been  removedf 

ace   CEtablish- 

the  malntenartce 

our  navaf  glori/f 

fleet  which  it 

ontinuancc  of 

d  the   British 

t  to  the  cstab- 

add  mariners 

['spcctiveservi- 

ise  ships  which 

e  petty  offiiers 

to  the  Icnj^th 

alt  those  who 

icb,  1803,  '^nd 

all  have  been 

II  direct  tbcir 


attention  to  llioae  wliich  It  may  be  found  necessary  to  keep  in  rnm- 
niini^ion  ;  nn«i  as  soon  as  the  circnnistnnces  of  the  wiirtviil  admit, 
wiM  lirini;  home  and  disch.'r^c  a(l  persons  hiving  ihesnnie  BtHiiitint; 
aixl  periods  of  service,  as  those  dischnifrcij  frmii  tlu-  sIjijih  p«id  ofV; 
go  (liat  in  u  few  niop.ths  the  situation  of  nKlividiiiils  will  bt  erjnuli^cd  ; 
all  men  of  a  certain  period  of  service  will  he  hI  libtrty  loretinu  lioniu 
to  tliinr  families  ;  a-id  the  number  whieh  it  may  be  still  luceKsurv  (o 
retain,  will  be  composed  of  those  who  Iihvi-  ui  en  the  short*  fit  lime  iit 
tbt*  serviic  An  nrraNtjement  in  itself  so  jnsl,  caiiiiot,  in  then  loij- 
slups"  opinion,  fail  to  give  universal  satisf.iriian  ;  and  they  are  m- 
(jini'd  to  make  this  commnuii-ntion  to  (be  Hett,  beeaiiAf  they  think 
that  the  exemplary  <;ood  conduct  of  all  the  petty  tdlirers,  seamen, 
ami  marines,  entitles  tlu  ui  to  every  confidence,  and  to  this  full  and 
candid  cx(>lanatioii  of  Ihnr  lo{dships^  iiileniions  Their  Inidships 
catMiot  conclude  without  exprc3->int;  !li'  n  ho|ie,  tliat  the  valour  of  his 
liKijtsty's  lltctd  and  ai  -"'es  will  sptt-dily  brin^;  the  Americu'  (onlest 
to  1  coHclusiot'    '  >i!  »te  to  ili«-  IJ.iiish  nuf  i'l  for  Briti<«h  in- 

terests, and  coi..,      ivef         c  last iiiij  repose  of  U.       iviiized  world. 
«  By  iommaud  of  their  lordships. 

"J.  W  CROKF.R." 

Notwilh (landing  all  thefc  fymptotns  of  a  near  ap- 
proaching hurricane,  a  dclufion  alir.ofl  univerfally  pre- 
vailed through  the  nation,  of  which  it  is  hardly  polli- 
ble  to  produce  a  parallel.  Numbers  of  our  molt  en-* 
lightened  citizens,  knowing  that  the  reftoration  of  peace 
had  removed  all  the  oftenfible  caufcs  of  war,  and  pla- 
cing full  reliance  upon  the  magnanimity  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, predicated  all  their  arrangements  on  a  fpcedy  and 
honourable  peace.  Purchafes  and  fales  of  property  to 
an  incalculable  amount,  were  made  under  this  foothing 
cx'peftation.  And  we  were  lulled  into  a  (late  of  the 
moll  perfeft  fecurity,  as  if  all  our  dangers  had  uttet  ly 
fubfided — the  temple  of  Janus  were  about  to  be  clofed 
— and  every  man  wer«  to  convert  his  fword  into  a 
plough -(hdie. 

To  fuch  a  degree  was  this  infatuation  carried,  that  au- 
thentic information  of  the  failing  of  hoflile  armaments 
produced  no  effcfcl  to  diminifli  it.  We  were  gravely 
told  that  it  was  quite  in  charafter  tor  nations  to  put  on 
a  bold  face  when  thev  were  negociating  ;  that  the  cx- 
pctife  to  England  of  fending  thefe  armaments  was  in- 
confiderable  ;  that  they  w©uld  be  recalled  as  foon  as  a 
treaty  was  signed  ;  and  in  fine  that  flie  was  too  magnan- 


'\V 


\4 


48 


TUK   OLIVE  BnAVC.'lI. 


imous  to  take  advantage  of  the  exiftlng  flate  ot  things — 
with  an  ciullers  variety  ol  arguments  and  aflbrtions  equal- 
ly profound,  convincing,  and  cogent. 

There  were  infinite  pains  taken  by  the  friends  of  Eng. 
land  to  fofter  and  extend  this  delufion.  Their  effoits 
were  crowned  with  tlie  mod  complete  fuccefs.  The 
nation  fell  inlotiic  fnare  with  a  degree  of  cullibiiity  that 
afforded  a  practical  commentary  on  our  pretenfions  to 
illumination  fuperior  to  the  reft  of  the  world. 

Thefe  deceits  were  varied  with  an  addrefs  and  induf. 
try  worthy  of  a  better  caufe.  They  affumed  every  kind 
of  fliape  from  ?n  humble  fix-penny  paragraph  extracted 
from  a  London  paper  to  an  important  public  documeMit. 
Extra6ls  of  letters,  innumerable,  from  emin'Mit  mer- 
chants in  London,  Liverpool,  and  Glafgow,  to  mer- 
chants of  equal  eminence  in  Bofton,  Ni  w  York,  Phi- 
ladelphia, and  Baltimore,  were  publifhed  with  moft  con- 
fident  a ffu ranees  of  the  immediate  appointment  of  corn- 
mi  ffioners,  to  negociate  with  ours  un  terms  comporting 
with  the  magnanimity  of  England,  '.md  perfeftlv  hon- 
ourable to  the  United  States.  Lcttt'is  were  laid  like- 
wife  to  have  been  received  from  Mr.  Gallatin,  full  ot 
aflurances  of  peace,  which  Britain  would  gr^nt  on  ■ 
terms  more  favourable  than  when  (he  was  preflc  d  by 
the  power  of  Bonapaite.  All  thefe  tales,  how  wild  or 
extravagant  foever,  were  greedily  taught  at  and  be- 
lieved by  our  citizens,  as  they  flattered  and  coincided 
with  their  ardent  defire  lor  peace.  So  true  it  is,  as  the 
poet  fays, 


*'  What  we  wish  to  be  true,  we  are  fond  (o  V  jileve." 

Several  times  we  were  deluded  with  inlormation  that 
Admiral  Cochrane  had  received  difpatches  announcing 
an  approaching  armiftice,  with  his  confequent  recall 
from  the  American  ftation.  In  a  word,  no  pains  were 
fpared  to  lull  us  into  a  moft  profound  fleep  ;  and  the 
opiates  operated  moft  powerfully, 


"^••■^" 


Mf'' 


T!IE  OLIVE    DHAKCM. 


40 


^ow,  to  nier- 


ormatlon  that 


DiirinfT  all  this  dcccitlul  calm,  thronqli  which  every 
i!i;m  ot  tlirccniincnt  might  readily  ami  unerringly  lore- 
icc  the  approaches  of  a  ten  till  ilorm — as  every  inc'.ica- 
lidii  tioMi  England,  dcferving  of  credit,  poi tended  a 
h/ng,  a  derj)erate,  and  a  viiidictive  warfare  ;  tlie  gov- 
criunent  of  the  United  States  took  no  meafures  to  dii'pel 
i.ic  dekifion.  In  vain  the  pnhlic  looked  to  Waliiington 
l.ir  inlormation  on  the  profpecl  ot  afFairs.  All  was 
tiijrc  pioloundly  filent.  Government  mull  have  had  all 
i!i'j  intormation  on  tlie  fuhjccl  that  was  in  this  country  : 
and  it  was  their  incmnheiit  dutv  to  have  diileminated 
abroad  the  relult  of  their  intelligence,  that  the  public 
might  regulate  their  proceedings  and  predicate  their 
meafures  on  rational  and  j)rudent!al  calculations.  But 
this  imperious  dutv  was,  I  venture  to  atfert,  utterly 
neglefclrd.  There  was  not  a  line  of  oflicial  communica- 
tion on  the  fuhje61:.  And  nothing  a})peaied  in  the  Na- 
tional Intelligencer,  that  ftronglv  marked  either  a  pro- 
bability of  pe.icc  or  ot  a  continuance  ot  the  war.  As 
far,  however,  as  conclufions  could  be  drawn,  trom  that 
femi-official  paj)er,  tiiev  bore  more  tlie  ilamp  ot  a  reflo- 
ration  ot   peace,  tiran  of  the  contrary. 

Tins  conduit,  on  the  part  of  the  adminiftraticn  was 
to  the  la  ft  degree  culpable.  It  was  a  dereIi6lion  of  duty 
that  expofed  our  citizens  to  ruinous  confequences.  The 
Phdadclphians  were  among  the  mod  dcdudi-d  portion  ot 
the  people  of  the  United  States.  There  were  no  pre- 
parations made  tor  detence,  except  the  embodving  a 
number  ot  volunteer  corps,  very  inefficient  indeed  to 
protect  us.  And  1  Ihuddcr  to  tliink  what  might  havr; 
been  the  confequences,  had  the  encmv  aflailed  us  while 
we  were  thus  napping  in  a  itate  ot  llupid  and  nioft  irra- 
tional fecurity. 

T'le  cralh  ot  the  conflagration  at  Wafhington  awaked 
us  out  of  our  (lumbers,  and  (lifpellcd  the  delufion. — 
We  were  then  aioufed  to  a  full  fenfe  of  our  dangerous 
fituation,  and  of  the  folly  and  fupinencrs  that  had  caufed 
it.  We  went  manfully  to  work — and  in  a  few  weeks 
made  fuch  prepaiatioiis  as  renewed  public  confidence, 


M 


<i 


'**.^1  N.  »*  **-^'  -■-••■■*-•  •xt.^t..!!^ 


1^' 


M' 


!;  I 


50 


THE   OLIVE  BnANCH. 


ami  promifcd  fair  to  enable  us  to  repel  the  enemy,  fliouKi 
he  make  his  appearance. 


I 


Jianlv  of  ihe  United  States. 


Among  the  £(rcat  fin'!  of  tlic  tirniorratic  party,  niii{l 
be  numhered  the  non-ienevval  ot  tlic  chailer  of  th( 
bank  ol  the  United  States.  Tiiis  ciremnllancc  injmi- 
oufly  alTe^led  the  credit  and  (•hara6};er  ot  tliis  country 
abroad  -produc<'d  a  great  degree  of  itagnalicn,  difticls, 
and  dilfieulty  at  home — and  is  among  the  caufes  of  the 
cxilting  einbarrallmcnts  and  dilliculties  of  the  pecuniary 
concerns  ol  the  eountrv^  Weie  it  now  in  exiilenee,  iti 
capital  might  readily  at  any  time  be  increafed  by  con- 
grefs,  10,  12,  30  or  40  millions,  fo  as  to  ai<l  the  govern, 
juent  moll  ciTec'lually,  and  fnpport  the  national  credit. 

To  the  renewal  of  the  charter  tliere  were  varicus 
objections  made,  on  the  ground  of  inexpediency  :  but 
thele  4iad  not  much  influence — nor  were  they  enter- 
tained by  mariv  ot  the  members.  The  grand  dilliculty 
arole  from  the  idea  io  lleadily  maintained  by  the  demo- 
cratic party,  that  the  conllilution  imparted  no  power 
to  grant  charters  of  incorporation.  Many  of  the  mem- 
bers who  on  this  ground  voted  in  the  negative,  mofl:  un- 
ecjuivocally  achiiitted  the  exp:diency  of  a  renewal  of  the 
charter. 

Tliis  conuitutlonal  objcftion  was  obviated,  it  would 
appear,  unanrwerably.  All  the  depaitments  of  the  gov- 
ernment, legillative,  executive,  and  judiciary,  had  recog- 
nized the  inlfitution,  at  various  times  during  the  twenty 
years  of  its  cxiftcnce. 

The  courts  of  different  ftates  and  of  the  United  Staki 
had  fujtained  varicus  Jlats  brought  by  the  bank  in  it! 
corporate  cahacity — by  which  fo  tar  as  depended  upon 
the  judiciary,  it  had  the  feal  of  conftitutionality  ftamped 
on  It.  This  was  a  very  ferlous,  important,  and  decifivc 
circumftance. 

In  addition  to  this,    a  democratic  legillature  of  tlic 


)\)i.i 


THE    OLIVE    nnANCH. 


51 


Tlnitcd  States  had  given  it  a  moll  folcmn  faiiflion.  In 
M.iicIj  i8o.j,  an  utt  liacl  pallecl  to  authorize  the  iiiOitu- 
tioii  to  ellahlilh  hranches  in  the  territories  ot  tlic  United 
States,  v/hieh  power  was  not  einhraccd  by  tlie  original 
rhaiter.  This  all  was  pa/fed  without  a  divijioii,  zvhcn 
neurly  all  the  vitmbcrs  were  pre/cut.  No  eonflitutional 
ob  efciion  could  have  been  then  (ugirclled  ;  tor  luch 
Tucmbers  as  believed  the  ineafure  unconllitutional,  would 
indubitably  have  called  tor  the  yeas  and  nays  in  order  to 
record  their  difl'ent. 

The  afl  was  ligned  by  Nathaniel  Macon,  fpeaker  o\ 
the  houte  of  re})rel"entatives,  Jcdc  Franklin,  prefident  ok" 
the  fenate,  and  Thomas  Jellcilon,  prelidcnt  ot  the  United 
States. 

Thefe  cafes,  with  otiiers  which  might  be  cited,  pro-- 
duced  this  dilemma.  They  either,  as  I  have  Itated,  af- 
j'orded  a  complete  recognition  ol  tlie  conlUtutiouality 
of  the  charter,  or  a  crofs,  palpable  violation  ot  the  con- 
flitution,  by  the  three  fjveral  grand  departments  of  the 


government 


1  prefumc  it  cannot  be  doubted,  that  if  a  charter  of 
incorporation  be  iinconflitutional,  every  cxtenfion  of 
the  powers  of  the  corporate  body  niufl;  be  equally  nncon- 
ilitutional — perhaps  I  might  go  fo  tar  as  to  alleit  that 
every  aft  recognizing  the  charter  is  in  the  fame  pre- 
dicament. But  it  is  not  Receflary  for  my  purpofc  to  pro- 
ceed thus  far. 

It  therefore  tollows  Irrcnflibly  that  every  member  who 
voted  tor  the  a6t  of  March  1804,  '^"^^  attcrwards  voted 
iigainft  a  renewal  of  the  charter,  merely  on  the  grounds 
ot  unconftitutionality,  was  gnilty  of  a  maniteft,  if  not 
a  criminal  inconfillency. 

A  circumllancc  coimefted  vvlth  this  tranfaftion,  ren- 
dered the  impropriety  ot  the  reje61:ion  of  the  application 
ot  the  bank,  ftill  more  Itriking  and  palpable.  The  gov- 
ernment held  2200  fhares  of  the  ftocktill  the  year  1802, 
n'hich  they  fold  to  Sir  Francis  Barring  at  45  per  cent, 
advance,  whereby  they  made  a  clear  profit  of  8399,600 
beyond  the  par  value.     Thofe  who  purchafed  of  Mr. 


t\ 


^\f 


52 


TMF.    OMVF,    nnANCIt. 


B^nliiiT,  and  licUl  the  Hoc  '.  till  tlie  Hifroiution  of  tli(? 
bjiik,  loll  all  tins  rum,  c.xrliidvc  ol  a  confiilcr.iblc  till- 
lerfnce  between  the  dividends  and  legal  intercft  on  the 
])ni chafe  money.  They  eould  never  have  entertained 
anv  douht  ot  the  continuance  of  the  charter.  They  mull 
have  regarded  it  as  jjcrinanent  as  that  of  the  bank  (d  Kn';-. 
land.  Had  they  fuppofed  otherwife  they  wonltl  not  have 
bongiit  at  fo  great  an  advance.  And  it  would  not  be  ealV 
to  fatisfy  any  candid  indiiferent  perlon  that  our  govern, 
ment  conld  with  propiirt v  or  jnllice,  make  fncli  profit  owl 
of  tlici;-  ignorance  and  their  confidence  in  its  integrity 
and  fainiefs. 


The  Capture  nf  Tfashivj^ton, 

On  the  24th  ot  Anon  ft,  the  capital  of  the  United 
States  was  taken  by  the  encln^',  Their  force  was  fniall. 
It  was  by  no  means  of  that  niagnitude  that  would  have 
prevented  the  dilafter  from  being  accompfUiied  by  dil- 
grace.  Had  it  l)een  overwlielming,  the  lofs  might  have 
excited  regret,  but  we  fhould  have  been  fpared  mortifi- 
cation. But  as  it  flarids  a  fuhje^l  for  liiflorlcal  record, 
the  lofs,  althuuiTh  ver)-  great,  is  undeferving  of  confider- 
ation.  Placed  hcfide  tlic  dilhonour,  it  finks  into  infigni- 
fjcance  like  a  molehill  placed  hcfide  a  mountain. 

I  cannot  flate  the  exatl  force  of  tlie  enemy.  But 
everv  pcrfon  with  wlioni  I  have  converfed,  that  faw  them, 
lias  beeii  of  opinion  that  the  numbeis  were  fo  final  1,  and 
they  were  fo  j  uled  and  di.pirited  with  their  m.uTh,  that 
had  fuitable  prejiarations  been  made,  they  might  have  been 
defeated  and  probably  captured. 

Thtv  landed   at  Benedirt,  on  the  16th  of  Ang-uff,  and 


proceeded  in  a  toleiahiy  ncnlar  courle  towan.s 


f'e  to 


Wall 


ton,  which  was  the  only  ohj.'.'-t  woithy  of  tiieir  attention. 
'Jliey  were  eight  days  on  their  march.  And  fo  tar  as  I 
liave  learned,  there  was  not  the  fl-gliteff  prej)aration  made 
for  their  leccption,  till  one  or  two  or  three  d.iys  before 
theii  arrival  at  that  city.     It  is  faid  that  the  fecrctary  at 


THE   OLIVE  BRASCIT* 


03 


ition  of  tlu" 
idcr.ihle  tlii- 
tcrcll  oil  the 
;  entertained 
'Vlicy  miiil; 
);ink  ot  Vav:^- 
ulcl  not  have 
I  not  be  ealV 

our  govci:i. 
leli  jMofit  out 

its  integrity 


iS  waninio:- 


^ar  ridiculed  the  idea  of  tlielr  making  an  attempt  on 
W.ilhini^ton,  till  within  three  days  ot  tlie  battle  ol  Bla- 
den IbMrir. 

One  obvious  plan  oi  defence,  whieh  would  have  flruck 
:lie  mind  of  a  mere  tyro  in  military  afT.nrs,  was  to  have 
I'driifoned  the  capitoi  and  the  I'refident's  houle,  with  as 
pou'crtul  a  force  as  could  conveniently  operate  there. 
The  llreni>th  of  thefe  two  building'?  would  have  enal)le(l 
the  f^arrifons  to  holdout  a  longtime,  until  troops  could 
have  been  colleeted,  to  encounter  the  enemy. 

It  is  not  for  me  to  decide  on  whom  the  cenfure  ought 
to  fall,  on  the  prefident — the  fecrctary  at  war — or  the  dif- 
tri^t  general,  Winder — or  on  the  whole  together.  But 
letlh.it  point  be  determined  as  it  may,  it  c.mnot  be  denied, 
that  notiiing  but  the  moll  culpable  ncgleft  could  have  led 
to  the  refuiis  that  took  place — relults  which  cannot  fail  to 


atu 


I 


prove  uij'irious  to  tiie  national  ch.iracter  in  iLuroj^ 
which,  had  not  the  news  ot  the  exploits  of  the  brave  and 
ilUiflrloiis  Macdonough  and  Macomb,  arrived  thcic  ,'tt  the 
iame  time  as  the  account  ot  this  dilgraceful  (lifallf,, 
would  havemateri'dly  and  peruicioufly  alfcdcd  the  p' 
inn  ncEiociation  at  Ghent. 


'^i•■ 


General  IViWinson  and  General  Ifampton, 

In  military  affairs,  when  there  are  combined  operations 
imdertaken,  it  is  indifpenlably  neceflary  that  :  good  un- 
(Icrllanding  fiiould  prevail  between  the  fcveral  officers. 
A  want  of  due  attention  to  this  obvious  di^late  of  pru- 
dence and  comnu)n  fenfe,  has  caufed  the  failure,  among 
vaiious  nations,  ot  operations  of  the  utniofl  importance. 
It  is  one  ot  thofe  plain  rules,  which  can  hardly  cfcapc 
the  difcernmert  of  a  man  of  even  y-.'.'iocre  capacity. 

Nevcrthclefs,  the  preildent  (perhaps  the  fecretary  at 
\var'i  committed  the  nortnem  campaign  of  1813,  *^  Gen. 
Wilki  ifon  and  Gen,  Hampton,  between  whom  exifled  a 
liigh  degree  of  hoftilitv,  vluch  was  fufficicntly  well 
known  to  have  pointed  out  the  folly  and  madnefs  of  the 

5* 


1 


■w.  -•  -^ 


m 


B4> 


THE   OMVE    I'.IlANcrr. 


procedure.  The  IfTuo  of  the  campaipii  was  difaflrou';. 
And  it  is  not  impr()hal)ie  that  a  hsiiu;  portion,  porliaps  tiic 
\vliule  ot  the  dil'.iilcr  arofe  tVoni  a  nc^left  of  a  rule  lo 
ver\'  rational  that  it  is  allc»riilhing  how  it  could  have  bcca 
ovcilookcd. 


Tocrft/t;,'i;'.5  oj  iov[i;ycsfi 


,fC. 


Among  the  grievous  Hns  of  the  ruling  pnrtv,  I   know 
ot  none  much   more  (Mdp.ihie  than  the  tuilciahle  mode 


d. 


i?i   which  the  j)rocce(nngs  ot   Congicls  are    nuuiagf  ( 
Whatever  niav   l)e  the   utgctuv  ot   the  puhlic  hufiuers 


how  riunoius  loever  niav   hi*  (icla\',  it  apjjcais  utterh  ini 
])oir:h]e   to  iulpire  that  hndv  whU  a  due   degree    ot 


( n- 


ergv  or  proni])titude.  V/eek  alter  week,  and  nuintji 
aiter  month,  pafs  ovcu' — and  the  {)nhlic  anxioullv  liut  ii; 
v.'.in  evpe^l  remedies  to  t)e  a))plied  to  the  diloiders  ot 
tlie  Hate.  To  a  mod  euipahle  fpirit  of  proeraliiudtion, 
;ind  the  cacoetht's  laqnenth,  this  wretched  wade  of  time 
and  neglect  ot  thx  public  cnibarratiments  may  be  tairlv 
traced. 

One  or  two  powerful  o'v.tors  on  cacli  fide  take  a  com- 
jjrchcnfive  vie\v  oi  a  iuhjr^t.  The\'  cximutt  it  coin- 
})lctelv.  Thev  arc  iol lowed  l)y  a  crowd  ot  fpeakers,  who 
are  unable  to  tluow  anv  new  or  important  light  on  It — 
and  whofe  fpeeches  Hand  in  the  fame  relation  to  ihofe 
ot  the  carlv  orators,  that  a  ha  111  warmed  over  a  fecond  or 
third  time  does  to  tlic  oriizinal   nol)le  furloin   ot   whofe 


i 


ragmcnts  it  is  torme( 


And  thus  is  tlic  money  ot  the 


nation  expended,  and  its  hopes  frnftratod,  merely  that 
Mr.  A,  and  Mr.  B,  and  Mr.  C  may  have  an  oppoitn- 
nity  o^  making  long  fpeeches  to  prove  to  their  conllitii- 
eiits  how  wilely  thev   have   felecled  reprefentatives 

I  have  not  beiore  me  the  deh-ates  of  the  Britilh  parlia- 
ment— and  theretore  cannot  witii  full  confidence  ftate 
"what  is  actually  their  mode  of  proceeding.  But  it  is 
itrongly  impreded  on  mv  mind  that  they  gcnerallv  decide 
on  every   (|uefUo:i  at  one  liuing.     This  at  lead  I   can 


-,i''.i 


TIIK    OT.TVK    BUAVail. 


B3 


nvcr  ^vlth  the  utir.ofl  c--itii!if\,  tiMt  maiiv  of  the  moR. 
niDTic'iUoos  qMC'dions,  uiv'olvini]!;  ijiiiiiesliatcly  tli«  mtcr- 
elts  ol  8o.ooo.t)3o  ')l  people,*  h.ive  hecn  decided  in 
this  w.iv  .liter  a  debate  troui  three  o'clock  in  tin*  a[ti'r- 
nooii,  till  three  or  tour  in  the  moniinir.  And  on  tiieie 
(jueltions  fotne  ol  the  gre.ite'l  luen  in  Knroj)C  h.jve  ta- 
ken part  on  hoth  fides —Ivi  fk' no,  and  Fox,  and  Gray-^ 
Pitt,  and  Bin  ke,  and  Wvndli<;ni. 

A  large  poition  ot  the  people  of  this  country  have 
taken  oppofite  fides  refpctVuiir  EuLdand,  its  nianners,  anil 
its  cu{h)nis.  One  paity  hlindly  admire  and  copy — the 
otr.er  as  hlmdly  hale  and  defpue  eveiv  thnitr  B  itifii. — 
They  are  botli  in  equal  error.  England  prefents  nu;ch 
tn  admire  and  copy — iuucn  to  cen'ure  and  avoid.  It  is 
highly  defirahle  we  fiiould  imitate  her  in  this  rer[)ei!h  I 
m-iv  treat  this  fnhjefl  before  I  clofe  n)vM)ook  with  otiier 
views  than  that  which  led  to  introduce  it  lieie. 

As  re{i>e^ls  the  proceedujgs  oi  Cono;re{s,  a  remedy 
011^  It  to  he  applied  immediately.  The  deh.itcs  ouglit  to 
be  limited  witiini  reaionable  bounds.  And  whenever 
the  emergency  ot  the  cafe  rc(|uires  promptitude^,  the  fes- 
iion  ouglit  to  be  contiiried  till  the  fuhjeH  is  decided,  un- 
lefs  us  complication  anddifiicuity  may  render  fuch  a  plan 
improper. 

What  a  lamentable  profpcft  the  country  exhibits  at  the 
moment  I  am  writing  !  It  is  now  the  fi\th  ot  Dei'end;er. 
Congrefs  have  been  iji  fefiion  nearly  three  months. — 
Tn.:v  found  the  credit  of  the  government  laid  proftiate 
— the  feaboard  expoled  to  depredation — the  pay  of  the 
army  in  arrears — and  every  thing  in  a  fituation  that  was 
calculated  to  excite"  energy  and  decifion  among  a  n.itiori 
ot  Sybarites,  And  what  has  been  the  refalt  ?  There 
have  been  probably  one  or  two  hmulred  flowery  fpeeches 
made — amendments  innumerable — pollponements  qu. 
futr. — and  only  two  important  atls  palled — one  for  bor- 
rowing three  millions  of  dollars — and  the  other  toi  buy- 
ing or  building  20  fchoone.s. 

*  InrliidiiiQf  its  T. isi  Iiulii  pcssrssions,  llie  :ibovc  is  the  nuuibcr  of 
tUc  suljjccts  of  Ihc  6t  iUbh  JBnipirc. 


i 


.niri^i'i'ii^E^  - 


:Jt^ 


■4 


96 


THE  OMVE  nnAKCir. 


To  tliofe  wlio  are  aftuatcd  by  a  fincerc  rcganl  for 
tlie  welfare  and  ratety  ot  their  country,  tliefe  things  inuR 
be  a  fourcc  ot  the  moft  poignant  uneafinefs.  Tliey  arc 
iitteilv  unaccountriblc,  and  irreconciJeable  vith  the  plaiti- 


elt  ditlates  of  realbn  and  common  fen 


iC, 


La)ing  rifide 


rdl   confidcrations  of  public   fpirit  or  patriotilm,  a  di: 
regard  to  perfonal  intered  ought  to  prelcribe  a  totally  dii 


i 


erciit  iinc  ot  con 


idntl; 


Tlio  r.iajoiity  have  endeavoured  to  fhelter  themfelves 
by  throwing  the  blame  on  the  minority  who  make  thofs 
long  fpecchts  for  the  purpole  ot  embarrafTing  then), 
and  prof  racing  their  debates  and  proceedings.  This 
pica  will  not  ftand  examination.  If  it  were  valid,  a 
minority  ot  six  or  eight  perions,  poircfTed  of  the  tacul- 
ty  ot  making  "/(?/?j  talks,'"  might  at  all  times  totally  bal- 
and    paralizc  the  motions  ot  the  govern- 


f] 


e  a  m/joiuy 


incnt  Suppole  each  member  of  the  minoiity  to  make 
a  fpecch  of  a  day  or  two  on  every  tubject  that  arofc  for 
diiculhon, — and  allow  a  reafonable  time  for  rcjilication 
to  the  majority,  and  the  wliolc  year  would  be  inadequate 
for  that  portion  of  bufincts  which  the  British  parliament 
would  with  cafe  difpatch  in  a  mv)nth. 

Befides  the  dehjv  arifing  trom  the  difplays  of  oratory 
which  1  have  ftated,  there  is  another  fourcc  of  delay 
equally  inj'irious.  Private  and  trifling  bufinefs  obtrudes 
itielf  on  tlie  attention  ot  congrels,  and  occupies  a  large 
portion  of  the  time  which  is  loudly  called  for  bv  the  im- 
pjortcsnt  aflaiis  of  the  nation.  The  former  ought  to  be 
foftponcd  till  the  other  is  all  dilpatched. 


•.'\\ 


v   \ 


JVegleH  of  Public  Opinion. 

Of  all  the  errors  of  the  two  adminiftralions  ol  Mr. 
Jcfferfon  and  Madlfon,  the  leitl  criminal,  but  probably 
the  moll  pernicious  in  its  rcfults,  is,  the  inditference 
they  have  difphiyed  towards  the  imfounded  allegations 
v.'lieieb\  they  wee  borne  down,  and  then-  reputation  and 
ufetulneis  deftioyed.     This  may  have  arifcn  from  an  ab- 


"fnitlltsi 


THE    OLIVE    BRANCH. 


gr 


fuvd  reliance  on  the  good  fenfe  of  the  public — or  on  the 
rc^Htude  of  their  own  intentions — peiiiaps  from  their 
indolence  or  inattention.  It  was  probably  iounded,  it  it 
arofe  from  cither  of  the  two  firft  motives,  upon  a  trite, 
but  fallacious  maxim,  which  antiquity  hath  bequeath- 
ed us — Magna  tjl  Veritas  et  prxvaldnt.  Millions  of 
times  has  this  captivating  maxim  been  pronounced;  and 
it  is  aluioil  unive;fally  admitted  as  incontrovertd)le.  Yet 
tlie  hillory  ot  the  world  m  almoll  every  page  bears  tefti- 
luony  to  its  fallacy.  Truth,  unaided  by  induUry  and 
artivity,  and  enctgy,  combats  at  very  unequal  odds 
againli  falfehood,  fuppoited  by  thefe  auxiliaries.  That 
mnti,  cateris  paribus^  is  an  overmatch  for  tallchood,  I 
Ircciy  grant.  But  tiie  friends  ol  the  lurmer,  it  tliey  rely 
wholly  on  its  intrinfic  merits,  and  do  not  exercife  a  due 
degree  of  vigilance,  will  be  miferably  deceived  in  th:  .r 
calculations. 

A  fuppoFed  cafe  in  point.  A  matron  is  charged  with 
lining  been  feen  entering  a  brothel  in  the  face  ot  day, 
v.itii  a  notorious  f'educer.  The  Hory  f'preads  in  every 
(liiecijou.  It  is  univeriallv  believed.  Her  eharafcler  is 
dcihoyed.  She  is  Ihuimed  as  contaminatorv.  Six 
months  afterwards, '  the  brings  a  holt  o(  luicxceptionabic 
witneires  to  piove  an  alibi.  '^\\qv  elld)lilh  incontro- 
veitiblv  that  at  the  time  flited,  and  tor  months  before 
and  after,  Ihe  was  m  China  or  Japan.  Thefe  pains  are 
in  vain.  Her  ciiaia^ler  is  gouv-.  The  waters  ot  the  At- 
lantic would  not  purify  her.  Siic  p^ys  for  tier  neglect 
and  her  tolly,  tlie  miglity  forfeit  ot  a  dcihoyed  repn- 
tjtiori. 

1  bus  has  it  been  with  tiie  adminiftrations  o!  Mr.  T^d". 
Iciion  and  Mr.  M.idifo;!.  1  iiev  Ivive  been  charged  with 
tiiiuinal  conduct,  iie<jueutiv  of  the  moft  fLigt,M;t  kind. 
Tlie  charges  have  been  palfed  ovei  ///;  /iUnf.io,  for  a  eon- 
li  Icrable  time.  N'.t  being  denied,  tlicv  were  prefumed 
to  be  adiniltfd.  And  m  fact,  liow  can  tlie  puhlie  defer- 
iiiiue,  whetiier  hlence  under  acculalion  arilcs  from  con- 
Icioiis  guill,  a  udi-ince  upon  confcious  re.titurle,  or  a 
loolilh  andcjinnnal  negieet  of  public  opinion  ? 


J 


f{( 


«t 


THE    OLIVE    BRAN'CIf. 


Mi 

m 


I  fav,  '^  a  crimina!  ncgleEl  of  public  op'vuon.''  Tlii'^ 
dcclaidtio!!  is  not  lightly  liazardcd.  The  chara/iler  oi  a 
public  officer  is  in  lome  fort  public  property.  A  private 
poi  Ion  may  allow  his  character  to  be  defhoyed,  withoiu 
inflittiiig  n^-isfortune  on  any  perfon  but  hinifelh  But  the 
tlelhuttion  oi  the  chara6}cr  ot  a  public  officer  is  really  a 
public  injury — as  it  materially  impairs,  it  it  docs  iiot  def- 
troy  his  ufcrnlncfs. 

There  is  in  the  hlftory  of  Gen.  Wafliington,  a  cir- 
cuniftancc  which  I  have  alwavs  rejravded  as  a  departure 
fVoni  the  found,  mafculine  good  fenie  that  almoft  univer- 
fally  prefukd  over  his  condu(:h  During  the  revolutiona- 
ry war,  foniQ  of  the  Britilh  cminaries  publilhed  a  collec- 
tion of  letters  afcribed  to  him,  whicli  were  partly  genuine, 
but  interpolated  by  forgeries,  and  partly  lette  s  altogether 
forged.  They  were  calculated  to  infpire  flrong  doubts 
of  his  attachment  to,  and  confidence  in  the  revolution. 
They  were  edited  by  a  ma  fieri  y  pen. 

The  attack  was  unavailing.  The  attacliment  and  con- 
fidence in  the  general  were  unimpaired.  The  pamphlet 
funk  into  oblivion. 

In  the  year  1795,  during  the  difcuffion  that  Jay's  treaty 
caufed,  it  was  reprinted  as  if  a  genuine  collection,  an'! 
had  an  extenfive  circulation.  Gen.  Wafliington  did  not 
at  the  time  notice  it.  He  allowed  it  to  take  its  courfe, 
apparently  indiflTerent  as  to  the  confequences.  But  at  the 
clofe  ol  his  public  funftions,  he  recorded  in  the  office  oi 
ihe  fccretary  oi  ftate  a  lormal  declaralion  of  the  forgery 
I  teel  convinced  the  procedure  \va3  inj.idicious.  li  the 
pamphlet  was  entitk'd  to  anv  aniiradverhon,  the  proper 
period  was  v;hen  it  was  rejiubiifhcJ,  and  ot  courfe  when 
it  would  produce  all  tlie  eileft  that  rould  rcfult  from  it 
on  his  public  characler. 

The  iiiftances  of  ncglefts  of  this  kind  on  the  part  oi 
Mr.  Jefferfon  ar.d  Mr.  Madiibn,  are  numijcrlcfs.  I  fliall 
inftdiice  only  two.  A  clu.rge  was  brought  forward 
againil  the  former  of  having  lent  two  millions  of  dollars 
to  France  for  fome  fecret  and  finiller  purpofe,  which  I 
cannot  now  recolleft.     It  had  been  in  univerfal  circula- 


THE   OI-IVK   BRA^•C1I. 


:;9 


Tton,  a  cir- 


lioa  ihroughout  the  union,  witliont  any  formal  or  fitls- 
{aiiory  contradittiori  tor  (omc  months.  At  length,  after 
it  had  done  all  the  mllchicF  it  w.>s  calcn!.;!c;l  to  prorlucc, 
HU  authentic  documental  denial  crept  out,  twaclly  like  ike 
!cuh'\s  alti>?,  and  Tvilh  the  fume:  cfjcct. 

One  other  indance,  and  I  have  done  with  this  part  oi 
my  fuhje^t.  The  offi'r  ol  the  RuHiaii  mediation  was 
jiiruic  hy  ;vl.  DafchkoiF  in  March  1813.  Mr.  Pickcrin*:^ 
l]i»)itlv  afierwaids  pnbiilhcd  a  feries  cA  letters  on  the  fuh- 
jotl  in  B  •'(Ion,  which  were  repnhliflied  in  almoll  every 
town  and  city  ot  ti^e  Uiii.ed  St-;tc«;.  He  openly  and  un- 
qualifiedly alleitod  that  the  wliole  was  a  fraud  and  im}X)f- 
ture — and  Iblelv  calculated  to  delude  the  citizens  irjto 
ru!)kriptions  lor  the  pcuiling  loan. —  He  denied  xhc  offer 
altOi^ctlicr  :  and  he  hoi  lly  referred  to  M.  D  uclikc>iT  and 
to  Dr.  Logan,  to  prove  his  ftatements  correft.  If  ever 
an  accufation  demanded  attention  and  dilproval,  this  wa:^ 
of  that  defcription.  It  was  advanced  under  his  own 
Jio;nature  bv  a  mA\\  in  hig^h  (^'liciai  Ration,  and  of  very 
confiderable  llandinjr  witii  tlie  oppofeis  of  the  govern- 
ment. But  tlie  {ame  tatal  and  luipardonable  ncnlect 
took  place  as  in  fo  many  oihcr  inftances.  And  the  alle- 
L!;at'on  was  allowed  to  take  its  lull  cffefi:  without  any 
otiier  attempt  at  counteraction,  than  two  or  three  anony- 
moiis  parafrraphs. 

To  render  this  error  more  palpable,  a  motion  was  made 
ill  fenate  tor  a  difclofure  of  the  correfpondencc  on  the 
2d  of  June,  ot  which  the  government  ought  to  have 
gladly  availed  itfclt.      But  it  v.-as  rejefted. 

At  length,  when  the  whole  aiTtir  had  funk  into  ob- 
livion, on  the  7th  of  June,  1814,  a  motion  was  carried 
in  the  houfe  of  reprefent.d'vc;,  for  the  publication  oi 
the  correfpondencc.  It  then  appealed  that  the  whole  of 
the  charges  were  calumnious  and  unfounth'd — that  the 
tranfaftion  reflecled  a  high  degree  of  credit  as  well  on 
the  potent  monarch,  who  took  {o  warm  an  intercff  in 
our  affairs,  as  on  our  government,  for  its  prompt  accept- 
ance of  the  m.ediation.  But  the  difclofure  was  too  late 
to  counteraft  any  of  the  pernicious  elFetls  that  had  re- 


''7 

41 


60 


Tirr.  OLIVE  iiiiANcir. 


fiiltcfl  from  the  accufation.     Many  pcrfons  to  tliis  cLiy 
believe  ilic  whole  tranfatlioii  a  deception. 

Loans, 

Atiothcr  error  of  tlic  federal  govcrmncnt,  preirinut 
Xv'itli  baleliil  roiirequerKcs  to  the  iiiuuiccs  and  credit  ot 
tlic  couiitrv,  was,  depending  on  loans  tor  the  iHppoit  ol 
the  war — and  (kdcrriiur  the  inipohtion  oi'  taxes  adeqn  i;e 
to  erect  the  {uperllrnrture  ot  public  credit  upon.  This 
arole  Iroia  t!ie  pernicious  dread  ot  toiteitlng  pf.'pula. itv 
— a  dicad  olteii  the  parent  o\  tiie  moil  dedi  native  nieai- 
ures.  The  ct^nfcquence  (jt  this  error  has  been,  thai  tlic 
loans  have  been  made  to  vciy  connderril>le  lofs,  and  tint 
the  public  creclit  ot  the  nation  has  been  moll  lamentably 
impaired. 


I  have  now  (Tone  throujjih  a  review  of  the  chief  of  the 
errors  and  follies,  tlte  neglefts  and  the  nnfmanagenit.  ht; 
ot  the  democratic  paity  1  iiave  derailed  and  can\.!ir''il 
them  wuii  the  holdnefs  and  independence  ot  a  treemaii. 
I  have  tollowed  tiie  fomid  advice  of  Othello  : 

*'  Non^lil  exlt'iMiatr — nor  an^Ut  set  down  in  mHlice." 

On  many  of  thefe  points  I  am  greatly  at  variance  with 
men  ot  j^nveiful  talents  belonging  to  that  party.  Sonic 
of  my  fa.^ts  and  opinions  have  been  controvcitcd  bv  a 
critic  o\:  con(idc'-.d)le  acumen,  in  one  ot  the  (iaily  paj.ers. 
I  have  re-exa-nnc'd  the  vaiious  fu!''j."tts  embraced  in  t,i!S 
vohir»ie,  and  wheie  I  have  foinid  canfe  to  change  my 
op'nion,  I  have  tmhefitatingly  done  io.  My  ohjed  is 
truth,  I  nave  purlucd  it  lleadilv,  and  as  tar  as  I  cm 
JMflgc  of  mvfelf,  witiiout  undue  bias.  Hut  I  \*  !i  know 
how  difficu't  -t  IS  to!  Iiuman  weaknefs  to  ^livefi  itfelt  ot 
pieiudice  and  partiality.  To  the  candid  reader,  I  lubmit 
the  dccifion. 


i^-w-'^S* -♦iW  "^ 


THE   OLIVF,    nilANCH. 


(U 


This  detail  of  mifconduB;  has  been  a  painful  t.ifk. 
},ir  nio.c  ajTieeable  would  it  have  b:'cn  to  have  dcfc.'.nted 
on  the  merits  and  talents  of  the  pjcfident  and  the  other 
public  functionaries.  To  a  man  of  a  libera!  mind  it  is 
infinitely  more  agreeable  to  bellow  the  meed  of  praife, 
than  to  deal  out  cenfure.  But  a  rough  truth  is  preferable 
to  a  (inooth  falfchood.  And  whatever  chance  we  have 
of  arriving  at  the  haven  of  peace  and  happinefs,  depends 
upon  a  fair  and  candid  examination  of  ourlelves,  which 
inull  infallibly  refult  in  a  conviclion  that,  fo  great  have 
been  the  errors,  the  follies,  and  the  m.ulncfs  on  both  fides, 
that  mutual  forgivenefs  requires  no  effort  of  generofity — 
it  is  merely  an  afct  of  fimple  juUicc. 


rfl 


Before  I  quit  this  branch  of  my  fubjcfl,  it  is  but  pro- 
per to  obleive,  that  it  is  hardly  pofTible  to  conceive  of  a 
more  difficult  and  arduous  fituation  than  Mr.  JefFerfon 
and  Mr.  Madifon  have  been  placed  in.  They  have  had 
to  Itruggle  with  two  belligerents,  one  fupreniely  power- 
ful by  land,  and  on  that  element  holding  in  awe  tl;e  chief 
part  of  the  civilized  wojld — the  other  equally  powerful 
by  lea  : — and  each  in  his  rage  again fl.  the  otiiei,  violating 
the  clearelland  moil  indifputable  rights  of  neutrals,  and 
infliding  upon  us,  in  a  time  of  pretended  peace,  nearly  as 
much  injury  as  if  we  were  ranked  among  the  belligerents. 
And  the  dixifions  and  dilliaftions  of  the  country,  with 
the  forniidafde  oppofition  of  a  powerful  party,  embracing 
all  the  governments  of  New-England,  and  a  confiderable 
portion  of  the  citizens  of  the  reft  of  the  union,  ujufl: 
have  caufed  the  adminifl:rati(in  infinitely  more  trcaible  and 
diffiv'-ulty  than  the  two  belligerents  together.  The  feder- 
aliUs,  as  I  (hall  fliew  more  fully  in  the  fequel,  after 
goading  t!ie  government  into  re'^i fiance,  and  vilifying 
them  lor  not  procuring  redrefs,  tliwarted,  oppofed,  and 
rendered  nugatory  every  rational  elfoit  made  to  accom- 
phfh  the  very  obje6}  they  profefTed  to  feek — a  degree  of 
madnels  andfolK  never-enough-to-be-deplored. 


)• 


M 


THE  OLIVE    DRANCM. 


CMAP.  III. 

The  F'.'deralifita.  TJie  Federal  Convmiion  and  Cms'iia- 
ti'Di.  Cuinpldinfs  oj  ihe  ivant  of  "ni'v^ij  in  'he  Cnus'i- 
tiiiion  Ih^orgunlzers  and  Jacobins.  Jllien  and  >i..d'L- 
tioii  Luivs.     Loss  of  I'ouer.    Change  of    ywws. 

Having  thus  taken  wlmt  I  hope  will  be  allowed  to  he 
a  caiulkl  view  ot  tb.e  errors  and  milcondufi:  ot  the  deiiio- 
tratic  p<ut\,  it  rctn.iiiis  to  j)ertotin  the  lame  office  toi  tiu.ir 
(Opponents.  And  I  leel  confident,  it  will  appear  that  the 
latter  have  as  much  need  to  iolicit  forgiveness  of  their 
injured  countr)',  as  the  former.  In  the  career  of  mad- 
iicls  and  folly  which  the  nation  has  run,  they  have  acted 
a  confpicuous  part,  and  may  tairly  difpute  the  palm  witli 
their  competitors. 

In  the  federal  convention,  this  partv  made  every  pofli- 
ble  exertion  to  increafc  the  energv  and  add  to  the  autho- 
rity of  the  general  governmeut,  and  to  endow  it  vvitii 
powers  taken  horn  the  (late  governments  and  from  tlie 
people.  Bearing  ftrongly  in  mind  tlic  diforders  and  con- 
vulfions  ol  fomc  ol  the  vcrv  ill-balanced  republics  oi 
Greece  and  Italv,  their  iole  ohjefcl  of  dread  appeared  to 
be  the  inroarls  ot  anarchy.  And  as  mankind  to()gene4al- 
ly  find  it  diific  ult  to  fteer  the  middle  courfe,  their  appre- 
lienfions  of  the  Scvila  ot  anarchv  effe^fuallv  blinded  them 
to  the  dangers  ot  the  Clunybdis  of  dcfpotifm.  Had  th.ey 
polleilod  a  complete  afcendency  in  the  convention,  it  is 
probable  thev  would  have  tallcn  into  the  oppofite  ex- 
treme to  that  which  decided  the  tenor  ot  the  conflltu- 
tion. 

I'his  partv  was  divided  among  themfelves.  A  fmall 
but  very  active  divifion  were  monarcliills,  and  utteily 
(lefbelieved  in  the  elRcacy  or  fecurity  ot  the  republi- 
can form  ot  government,  efpeciallv  in  a  territory  lo  ex- 
ten  five,  as  that  of  the  United  States,  and  embracing  fo 
numerous  a  population  as  were  to  be  taken  into  the  cal- 
culation at  no  diilant  period.     The  remainder  were  gen- 


ri/f 


THE   OLIVE    DRANCH. 


A.1 


\unc  republicans,  men  oF  cnlifrhtcned  views,  aiul  a 
liitrh  degree  of  public  fpirit  anil  patriotilhi.  '1  Iiey  dit- 
fcrcd  as  widely  froni  the  democratic  part  ot  that  body, 
as  from  the  monarchies.  It  is  unloitiinate  that  their 
counrcls  did  not  j)revaii.  lor  it  is  true  in  government, 
as  in  almoft  all  other  human  concerns — 

"  In  medio  tulisRiiniis  ibis." 

Safely  lies  in  the  middle  courfe.  Violent  and  impaf- 
fioHcd  men  lead  thcmlelves — and  it  is  not  wonderfui 
they  li*ad  others  aflray.  This  party  advocated  an  ener- 
getic, but  at  the  fame  time  a  republican  toim  of  govern- 
ment, which  on  all  proper  occahons  might  be  able  to 
command  and  call  toith  the  torce  ot  the  nation. 

The  following  letter  (beds  confidertible  light  on  the 
views  ot  Alexander  Hamilton,  who  took  a  dillinguifli-- 
cd  part  in  t!ie  proceedings  of  that  relpe^.lable  body. — 
It  is  obvious  t!iat  a  prelidcnt  diUMng  good  behaviour, 
(ould  hardly  be  confidcrcd  other  tiian  a  prchdent  for 
hie. 

Neto-Yojfc,  Sept.  l6  ,  1803. 

"\lYDrAR  SIR,— I  will  m?kc  no  apolosiy  for  my  di-lay  in  iins- 
wcvinp  your  tnimiry  K»inic  Jieiit"  sinrc  made,  beoaiisf  I  <?ould  oftVr 
none  which  uoulit  satisfy  myself— I  pray  you  only  to  bflioie  that  it 
|iro(  ccdt'd  from  any  thiii'jr  rather  than  want  of  lespccl  or  iigard — [ 
sltali  now  comply  witli   your  request. 

"The  hiiibcsi  toned  propositions  which  I  made  in  the  convention 
wore  for  a  president,  senate  and  judges,  dnrini;  |;oo<-l  behaviour;  a 
house  of  repre&entativea  for  three  years.  Tiiough  I  would  have  rn- 
lar|{ed  the  legislative  power  of  the  (;eneral  (government,  yet  1  never 
rontemplatcd  the  abolition  of  the  state  governments;  but  on  the 
enuirary,  they  were,  in  gome  particulars,  constituent  parts  of  my 
pliin. 

"This  plan  was,  in  my  conception,  conformable  with  the  strict 
theory  of  a  government  purely  repubiirnn  j  the  essential  criteria  of 
whirh  are,  that  the  principal  organs  of  the  executive  and  legislative 
<!cpartments,  be  elected  by  the  people,  and  hold  their  oiKces  by  a 
responsible  ami  temporary  cr  defeasible  nature 

"A  vote  was  taken  on  the  proposition  respecting  the  executive. 
Five  stales  were  in  favour  of  it  ;  among  these  Virginia  ;  and  thougli 
tioiH  the  uvinncr  of  voting  by  delegations,  individuals  were  not  dis- 
tinguished ;  it  was  morally  certain,  from  the  known  situation  of  the 
V    ;iuia  members  (six  in  number,  two  of  them  Masoti  and  llandolph 


„if»,.. ,  'H,^  .„  ... 


$% 


THE    OLIVE    BRANCH. 


Sf 


pioftiniiip:  pnpiil:ir  iloctiiiics)  that  IMailisnii  must  have  rniiriineil  iit 
tti<    iiitc  of  Vii'>iiii;t — :lius,  li'  1  m\ 


lift] 


IMadisuii  in  iiul  Icbs  ^iiilly. 


igaiiiKl  i'e|nibli(  uitiiini 


IVIi 


1  lUHy  •nily  tli(;ii8i«y  that  I  iipver  proposed  eillitr  a  prv»i(lt;i«t  oi- 
fieiiaif  for  life,  nnd  tli.it  1  luiiliir  rccoiiiineiitled  nor  nicilitaltd  lliu 
uiiiiiliiluliuii  of  the  sl.itu  {{ovci  iiiiientM. 

And  1  may  aild,  that  in  the  coutsv  of  thr.'  di-sciissions  in  the  co 


n- 


nor  even 


vcntiui),  neither  the  iiiopositions  thrown  onl  for  debate, 
those  voted  in  the  earlier  Kla|;es  of  deliberation,  \v«'i  e  (  onsideitil  ug 
rvideiiees  of  a  detinile  opinion  in  the  proposer  or  voter.  It  appruied 
to  be  to  some  sort  undpislood,  that,  wilhu  view  to  free  invest  i|;jtibii, 
« xperiinenlai  prnposilioiiH  iiii(;ht  be  made,  which  were  tu  be  reeeivcd 
merely  as  Hn;:{;estion8  for  eoiniKieratioit.  Aecordiii;;ly  it  is  a  faet, 
that  my  (inai  opinion  was  a;>;aiiiht  an  executive  during  good  beha- 
viour, on  aeconnt  of  the  iiiereased  daiiffer  to  the  public  tranquility 
iiieidtiit  to  theeleclioii  of  a  m.i;fistrate  ofhi4  di^rie  of  pfrmaneiicy. 
Jii  the  phiii  of  a  eonstitnliuii    whicli  I  drew  up  while  the  eoiiveution 


was    !4ittiii<;,  and  .rlinh  i  e 


omiunii 


nated  to    Mr.   \latrison   about  the 


eloKc  of  it,  perhaps  a  day  or  two  after,  the  oflicc  of  president  has  no 
|iiii;<;pr  duration  than  fur  three  yeais. 

''This  plan  was  prediealed  upon  these  bases:— — I.  That  (lie 
pnlilieal  prineiples  of  the  pi  opte  of  this  ennnlry  would  tudure  notli- 
ill;;  bill  a  repnbliean  governnunt.  a  Tliat  in  the  actual  situation 
of  the  country,  it  was  ils<  If  right  and  proper  that  the  republican 
theory  bhould  liave  a  fair  and  ftil!  trial — J  Tliat,  to  such  a  trial  it 
wna  esseiiitul  that  the  (>overiiinent  should  be  so  cnnslruclcd  as  to 
give  it  till  the  eiieii;y  and  the  stability  recoiu  liable  witli  the  prin- 
ciples of  tliat  theory These  were  the  genuine  sentiments  of  my 

Ik  art,  and  upon  them  1  then  acted. 

*' 1  sincerely  hope  tli.it  it  m.i>  not  hereafter  be  discovered,  that 
throuuh  want  uf  suiKcitut  atteiiiiun  to  the  last  idea,  the  experiment 
of  ippiiblicMii  goveriiineni,  even  in  this  country,  has  not  been  as 
complete,  as  satiijfact»ry<  and  as  decisive  as  could  be  wisheU. 

Very  truly,  dear  sir. 

Your  friend  and  servant, 

A.  HAMILTON. 

Thnolhif  Pickeri.ig,  Esq. 

In  the  conflitl  of  opinion  tliat  took  place  in  tlie 
convention,  there  was  a  neccdity  tor  a  fpirit  ot  com- 
jiroinife,  in  order  to  feciire  riiccefs  to  their  la!)Oiirs. — 
The  teii.icity  of  Come  ici-rmir  men  of  advcrfc  opinioirs 
had  ncdily  rendered  the  cfFHt  ahortive.  Accoiding  to 
I.uther  iMartin,  Eiq.  one  of  tlie  Maryland  delegates, 
the  convention  was  fevcral  tiin'!s  on  the  verire  oi  ad- 
jonrnuictit,  r<?  in/'ala.  The  good  fortune  ot  the  nation 
prevailed,  and  alter  a  rcHioii  of  about  lour  months,  the 


!  ■  .< 


TL'^r' — 


HIE   OLIVE   BRANCir. 


09 


nnruri'Pi]  in 


fonfti'.ntion  was  finally  agreed  upon,  and  fubmiucd  to 
|nil)lio  did'ufHon. 

The  federal  party  iinnicdiately  took  the  reins,  and 
udininiftcrcd  the  jrovcrnnient  of  the  United  States  lor 
twelve  years.  Dm ing  this  period,  its  want  ot  fufficient 
oiuM-gy,  and  its  dang^-r  troni  tlic  ftate  governments,  were 
iic(iuent  rul)je^ts  ot  inip-dHoned  complaint.  Kvery  niati 
ulio  oppoled  the  niealures  of  the  adminiftration,  ot 
what  kind  focver  thev  were,  or  from  whatever  motives, 
was  ftit^m.  ized  as  a  diror«rinizer  and  a  jacobin,  which 
lall  term  involved  the  ulmoll  extent  of  human  atrocity  ; 
a  jicobin  was,  in  fad,  an  enemy  t<'  focial  order — to  the 
r'.;Iits  ot  propertv — to  religion — and  to  morals — and  ripe 
iur  rapine  and  ipoil. 

As  far  as  laws  could  apply  a  remedy  to  the  feeblencfs 
ol  the  general  government,  they  leduloully  endeavoured 
to  remove  the  defcft.  They  tenced  round  the  conflitu- 
tcd  authoiUies,  as  I  have  Hated,  with  an  alien  and  feditiori 
law.  By  tiie  former,  they  could  banifh  Ironi  our  (hore? 
ohno\!ous  i<neigncrs  whole  period  ot  probation  had  not 
.'\piicd.  By  the  latter,  every  libel  ag.iinll  the  govern- 
ment, and  every  unlawful  attempt  to  oppof'e  its  meafnres, 
were  fubji.:61  to  puniihment,  more  or  lels  fevcrc,  in  pro- 
poition  to   its  niagrttude. 

The  alien  law  was  not,  as  far  as  I  can  afcertain,  ever 
carried  into  eirccl;.  It  was  hung  up  in  terrorcm  over  the 
heads  ot  levcral  lorci'Tners,  who,  in  the  language  of  the 
(l.iy,  were  rank  jacobins,  and  of  courfe  enemies  ot' 
God  and  man.  But  the  cafe  was  far  diflerent  with  the 
ledition  law.  Several  individuals  could  bear  teftimony 
tVoin  experience,  to  the  feverity  with  which  its  fanc- 
tions  were  enlorced.  Some  cafes  occurred  of  a  tragi- 
comical  kind,  particularly  one  in  Nev/- Jerfey,  in  which 
tiie  culprit  was  found  guilty  under  this  law  for  the 
fmiplc  with  that  the  wadding  of  a  gun,  difchajged  on  a 
icllival  day,  had  made  an  inroad  into,  or  fmged  the 
pofleiiors  of  Mr.  Adams,  then  prefident  of  the  United 
States. 

But  every  tliincj  in  this  fublunary  world  is  liable  to 
6* 


^h!i 


v-*>;4*E«*.. 


r 


flO 


Till'.  OI.IVE   niiANcn. 


rcvoliiilon  ;  an(i  tliis  is  j>r()vcilMal!'-  'be  cafe  with  pow- 
er in  a  rt'puhlic.m  )tovc  inmcnt.  i  Uc  people  ol  tlio 
Uiiitril  States  cliur^md  tlicii  riili;-.  iSy  \\\c  ic^^uLu 
roiirfe  ol  eli-Mioii,  tlicy  wltlulirw  tlu*  rcif.s  lioiti  tlu; 
Imii  Is  of  the  li'dcralins,  ;uv.!  placed  llicin  in  thofc  ot  the 
cIcMiocrats. 

This  was  ii  inofl  une\j)efl((l  revolution  to  the  levleral- 
ifls.  It  wholly  chanvji'd  their  views  ol  the  (roveriiiucrit. 
It  has  been  iilleited  in  England  that  a  toty  in  place,  be- 
comes a  whig;  whrn  out  of  place — and  that  a  wlu^  when 
pi.')vi(led  wit  '  a  plice,  heconus  ,i  toiy.  And  it  is  pain- 
inl  to  (fate  that  to*)  many  among  us  afl  the  lame  farce. 
The  jTovernnient,  which,  admiinllered  bv  theujlclves, 
\vas  regarde  1  as  niiferahly  lechle  and  inefhcient,  be- 
CfiiTie,  on  its  Iran ht ion,  arbitr.jrv  ar.d  defpotic  ;  notwith- 
llandinir  that  among  the  cailicll  aBs  ot  the  new  incum- 
bents,  was  the  repeal  niJt  merely  ol  tlie  alieji  and  ledi- 
tion  laws,  but  of  Ibmc  of  the  moll  obnoxious  and  op- 
preflive  taxes  ! 

Under  the  efTcfls  of  tliefe  new  and  improved  political 
^lv•ws,  a  vi  ulent  warlarc  w.is  begun  againil  their  iuc 
et  (Tors.  The  gazettes  patronized  by  and  devoted  to 
fctJerdlifm,  were  unccaling  in  their  elToits  to  degr.idc, 
d. (grace,  and  deiame  the  adminillration.  All  its  eirors 
were  Induftrioullv  magnified,  and  afcrihcd  to  the  mull 
pfrverfe  and  wicked  motives.  Allegations  wholly  un- 
founded,  and  utterly  improbable,  were  reiterated  in  re- 
gular fuccefTion.  A  conllant  and  unvarying  oppofitlon 
w,is  maintained  to  all  its  mealures,  and  hardly  ever  was 
there  a  fubditute  propofcd  tor  anv  of  them.  There  was 
not  the  flighteil  allowance  made  for  the  unprecedented 
and  convulied  flate  of  the  world.  And  never  was  there 
more  ardour  and  energy  dilplayed  in  a  flruggle  between 
two  hoftde  nations,  than  the  oppofition  rnanifefiLd 
in  their  attacks  upon  tiie  adminiftration.  The  ruinous 
confequcnces  ot  this  warfare,  and  its  deftruftion  of  the 
vital  inteiells  of  the  naion,  will  fully  appear  in  the 
fe.jucl. 


■;•*';,  if /i 


It.; 


THE    OLIVE    OUANCII. 


•7 


CHAP   IV. 

B/iliiih  Ov.lcru  in  Council^  jVovprnbcr  1T<)3.  Kiijxvct- 
mud  itf  ft. tic  of  1750.  G^mrid  climhur  tlivou^liuut 
til?  Uiiilel  Statea. 

As  all  the  diinciiItU'S  and  (landers  of  our  coiititry  have 
f[)ii:ng  tVoin    the  hclli^ciciit   iuvalions  ol  our  ^l^ht^.   I 
Mhall  cuinniciice  the  coulidcidtioii  o\  thcrii  Itoiu  the  Bii- 
tiili  orders  ol    179[^. 

At  t'ut  period,  duriiii^  the  adinininration  of  General 
WalliiiiirtoM,  the  lollovvuig  order  was  illued  hy  the  Bii- 
|tit!i  privy  couiuil  ;  — 

"  Gcortre  R.  Additional  iiinrurtions,  to  ail  fliips  of 
hv'af,  piivatecrs,  Sec. 

"  Tliat  they  ih.ill    Uop  and  detain  all  Ihips  hiden  with 

Ipouds,  the?  produce  ol   any  cohjnv  h(  loni'in;^  to  Fiance, 

or  carryin^r  provifions  or  other   hipplies   lor   the  uh-  of 

|liK;h  colonics,  and  (hall  brintr  the  lame,  with  their  car- 

lg(*cs,  to  le^ral  adjudication  in  our  conrts  ot  adinirahy. 


(t 


By  his  majcRy's  command 


Njv.  6,  1793 


Signed 


**  HtNRY    DjnDAS, 


»» 


This  (»rder  was  a  mofl  lawlefs  invafion  of  onr  rights, 
^mprccedentcd  in  extent,  and  incapahle  of  pleading  in 
5ts  defence  the  right  of  retaliation.  In  a  lew  weeks  it 
Iwcpt  the  Teas  ot  our  commerce.  Hundreds  of  our  vel- 
^ch  were  captured  :  and  tnanv  of  our  merchants,  who 
ad  110  moie  anticipation  of  Inch  a  fyllem,  than  ol  an 
attack  on  their  vefTels  hy  the  fuhjects  ol   the  emperor  of, 

liiiia,  were  abfolutely  ruined.  The  annals  ol  Europe 
fo'  tlio  prccednig  century  furnilh  no  mcafure  more  un- 
liilliliablc. 

The  circumflances  attending  it,  verv  highly  aggrava- 
M  the  outrage.  It  wasidu^-'d  with  fuch  an  extraojd'nary 
icgroe  of  lectecy,  that  the  (iMi  account  of  its  cxidcnce 


k\ 


n 


»rw*i;;i*r^^ 


r^ 


03 


THE  oLivK  nuANcrr. 


that  reached  the  London  cxrli;nige,  M'as  conveyed  \vitii 
the  dtttails  oi   tlic  captures  it  .lut'norizefl  and   occafio 


ned 


s  s. 


And  tlic  American  miniftcr  at  tlic  couit  ot   St.  Jamc 
was  nnablc  to  procure  a  ci^py  ol"  it   till  ih.e   25th    Do- 
ccMiher. 

This  lawlefs  piocedine  excited  univerHd  indlgnatiop. 
in  the  United  States.  Tiierc  was  a  general  clamour  tor 
•\var  amoiig  all  parties.  Several  very  violent  meafuns 
were  moved  and  debated  in  congiefs — among  the  relf, 
the  feqnellration  ot  all  Britifh  propertv  in  the  United 
States,  for  the  purpnlc  ot  indemnilym,'  our  merchants. 
This,  if  mv  nict^iory  do  not  deceive  no,  was  bron^Iit 
iorward  bv  Jonathan  D  yton,  ot  Xcw-Jcriey,  a  leading 
man  anKMig  the  federal ifts. 

While  cc-igicfs  were  engaged  in  debating  on  the  va- 
rious modes  ot  procuring  redrcfs,  the  prcfident  arrefled 
them  in  their  c.ux-cr,  by  the  nomination  of  Judge  Ja\'  as 
rninillcr  extraordinary  to  (eek  redrcls  from  the  Briiilli 
government. 

This  eventuated  in  the  celc!)rated  treaty  which  bears 
that  miniiler's  name,  again  11  which  volumes  of  denun- 
ciations were  publifhed  by  the  democrats,  with  number- 
lefs  gloomv  predictions,  on  nearly  the  whole  of  wbicli, 
as   I  have  already  flated,  time   has    {lamped  the  feal  ot 


ialf 


e  prophecy 


)C- 


From  this  period  till  the  year  1805,  the  collifions  I 
tween  the  two  nations  were  liTConfiderable. 

The  Unite?^  States  were  in  a  moll  enviable  ftate  of 
profperity  in  the  years  1800,  1,  2,  3,  4  and  j.  No  na- 
tion ever  euJDyed  grcrtter  happinefs.  The  exports  had 
moft  wondertullv  increated. 

During  the  firft  tour  years  of  General  Wafliington's 
adminiftration,  the  whole  value  of  the  exports  from  this 
country  fell  fhort  of  100,000,000  dollars,  whereas  dur- 
ing the  years  1803,  4,  ^  and  6,  they  ^v•ere  more  than  tre- 
ble that  amount. 


\  \  ii    !V 


?  I 


I     ' 


THE  tLlVK  BRANCH. 


6'^ 


1803- 
1804- 
1805. 
1806- 


55,800,000 

77,61^9,000 

-  95,566,000 

101,536,000 

330,601,000 


01  this  Immcnfe  fum  there  were  of  foreign  profluflions 
And  mcicliandizc,  principally  irom  the  colonics  ot  tl;c 
I'licnics  oi  Great  Britain, 


1803- 
1804- 
1805- 
1806- 


-13,594,000 
-36,231,000 
■53, 1 79,000 
-60,283,000 


163,287,000 


(llifions  hc- 


Uvhich  is  nearly  one  half  of  the  wliole  exports. 

This  excited  the  jiMlotiiy  of  Great  Bi'.tdin,  who  in  the 

ifiiininerot  1805,  adojited  the  rule  ot  the  warot  1756,  which 

rendered  illegal  any  commerce  carried  on  by  a  neutral, 

with  the  colonies  ot  a  belligerent,  duiing  war,  which  was 

not  j)(.'rniittc  1  duiing  peace.     This  rule  was  carried  into 

operation,    without    any    previous    notice    being    given, 

wlioreby  velllds  and  projieity  to  an  iminenfe  amount  weie 

|Ic;/.ed — carried  intit  Biitiih  poits — tiied  and  cijudenmed. 

A  circuin (lance  attending  this  tranfa^tion,  that  greativ 
agiTr^Vated  its  mj  idice,  was,  that  it  was  in  direit  holliiity 
Iwitii  picvious  dccifioris  ot  the  B:  :ti(li  coutts  ot  -)diiiirah\', 
rvhich  had  legalized  in  the  cb-arell  and  nioR  cxplic't  man- 
Incr,  the  trade  now  profcnbed,  aiui  l^ul'yci  to  condemna- 
Itioii. 

Thefe   proceedings    excited    a    unlverfal    indignation 
jtliicughout  the  United  States.     The  mercantile  part  of 


iw- 


*►  Tn-^j^i 


ro 


THE    OLIVE    fiHANt'K. 


>4 


the  community  weic  cxafpcratdnl  to  the  utmoft  clcfrrce. 
The  goviMiinit'nt  was  lligniatiztd  as  cqiialiy  irgaidk'ls  ol 
the  honour  and  the  intereU  ot  the  nation,  tor  iu)t  refilliiii; 
thc(e  pietcnfions  and  not  piocuimg  icchels  tor  thole  (II. 
predations.  A  lecurrence  to  the  teder.d  gazettes  ot  that 
period  will  (how  tliat  the  party  weie  tlien  clamorous  tor 
war,  it  icdrefs  could  not  be  procuied  tor  grievances  in- 
comparablv  lets  tlian  thole  that  finally  provoked  the  do- 
claratiun  ot  war.  But  it  may  be  iaid,  and  with  tome  dc- 
gree  ot  tiuth,  that  newfpapcrs  are  an  equivocal  ciUenou 
(d  t.he  psdjlic  ojiinioii.  This  I  admit.  And  I  fhall  lay 
betoie  ihe  reader  other  and  moit  unerring  proots  ot  tlic 
ir.crcantik:  temper  ot  this  period. 

Meetings  ot  t''e  merchants  were  held  in  almoft  all  the 
commercial  towns  and  cities  in  the  United  States.  The 
fut)je6t  was  eloquently  difcuflcd.  And  ftrong  memoiKiIs 
weic  agreed  ujion,  urging  tlie  pretident  and  congrets  to 
adopt  lucli  meafures  as  might  be  necellary  to  procure  re- 
(irels.  In  thelc  memorials,  which  were  worchnl  in  the 
ftrongelt  language,  the  pretenhons  ot  England  were 
treated  as  not  tar  removed  from  afiual  piracy — as  opening 
a  door  to  the  molt  {],.,^rant  frauds  and  impohtions— -ai 
unworthy  of  a  (frcat  and  ma'jnanimous  nation---and  ns 
derogatory  to  the  reputation  and  honour  ot  an  indepemJ- 
cut  nation  to  fuhmit  to.  C^oscrnment  was  in  tlie  moll 
impaihoiK  d  lliiL'  invoked  to  icutf  hich  pretenfions  ;  ani 
the  niemorialills  generally  plddged  themjelvei  mojl  soUmii- 
ly  lo  Jupport  It  -id  tlu  attempt.  As  I  Ihall  devote  a  f'epa- 
rate  Chapter  to  the  confideration  of  the  policy  ot  the 
mercantile  part  of  the  nation,  I  ihall  not  here  enquire 
how  tar  thete  pledges  woe  redeemed. 

As  thefe  memorials  are  immen(c[y  important  in  the 
formation  of  a  corre6l  eftirnate  of  the  policy  ot  tlie  gov- 
ernment, I  (hail  make  very  copious  extraOs  trom  them. 
They  are  moil  precious  docimients,  and  prefent  a  romi'l 
U!ivarnilhed  tale  of  the  outrages  experienced  by  Ameri- 
can commerce,  and  the  extravagant  pretentious  ot  Great 
Britain. 


I 


THE    OLIVE   BIIAXCH. 


:i 


CHAP.  V. 

ibf^tiiu  Memorial.  Strong  utile.  Ih'ltish  pvcfensian^  dc- 
ifirct.i-e  of  the.  navi-iidiim  of  neah'id  vntiinht.  li'if]i 
of  tlu*  Uitittd  StcU-i  to  opposp  t.'wsp  pVit'Ufii'Dis..-^ 
E'lTgeiic  call  for  adi'qdula  nieasuras  to  protect  cjm- 
111  I'ce. 

The  Boflon  mercluints,  after  jrldnciniT  at  tlie  voiatlons, 
Hiiiiits,  and  bdib'41  itics  iiifk^red  fioni  t'lancc  and  Spain, 
])ji"»(>ii  tt)  tlie  ci'^nndciatloii  oF  tiic  gi  icvanccs  inilitlcnl  by 
the  BritilJi.     They  ILite  tlut 


—as  opening 


"  If  is  llirir  ol.jtrt  ill  the  prrsfnt  memorial,  to  roufnn'' thtir  aiii- 
liiiiclvn8U>ii«   l«    itictiUK't     iilsiiiiiiii ;,    Itfviiosv  runre   nurh      .v   (V.J  e.v 

[trn^'ie  de/enfions  and  fiindc'iiu.ltous  of  .ht/i-icun  ren^.  ,•  'j;/  (irctt 
BrUitin  ;  «iid  to  iulvtii  l<»  ilic  iiii;!!)!!!^!!   it(«ji!l\  ,iv«n»t(|,  aitti  a<lo|il- 

I  *ii  liy  lui  <i)url«i,  i'«'l:ili\i'  {u  luiiliiil  (i;i(|»'  iii  artirics  of  vnl(i:ii-il 
|irn4iMC — Pi  iiK  i|>l«s,  w  l>i(  li,  if  ii'ltinitcd,  or  pinJisfJ  ojKii)  in  all 
till     .limit;,    u  liicl)  (iiay    fV.iily    In-  iiift'iictl  to  tie  iiitfHilrd,   uoii'il   \n: 

lllc^iiic'iic  of'  the  illliiralinii,  mid  RAUIC4«^Y  IMPAIR  TIIK,  W»)»T 
l-tCRATIVF;  CiMM::iltK  I'F  O  L  11  CiLIHIUV.  —  l^i  ilUI  |)i<'S  lit  it  li.\(l 
liri  II  viiliiaiiy  iiii<iiii|niit  (i  suitstfuu'tiily   lo  liieir  tirst  avowstl  even  diir- 

\ inn  an  mierimdiate  and  inveteinle  n'ar,  .'mil  ijiii  in::  tin-    |»rr>si'i'iil  lOn  of  a 

Itiuiii  wliic/i  In  no:t)  intenlicted  and  ulli-<r,-d  It)  be  ilUv^nl,  I'ut  uimli  '.  r.ulo 
U'.is  ill  lliiil  tiiiit^  >aii<'li<int')i  by  the  |iro.i,u!;i:it('il  (•Iciisions  ot'luT 
toiiis,   anil   Ijy  uii  (ifKi-ial    <  (Kiitiiiuii(.al  lOii  fimr    oik- of  I  In-    lnii'.ist 

Inriiaiis  of  \\\v  v«;iy  gDVci  luucit,  rtliirli  is    i).>vv  .illcniiiUiiu  li»   ilt>lMiy 

lit,   111(1  mill    lis  «.(li»|inssioii     to   A  N  MIIII.ATK,    (IK  UllKATLV     Di'iH- 

[MtH    1HK  tONMl  llCE  Ok-   NFtTllAl-   NA1IIIN8 

"I  lu'K-  IS  <j;ie.it  cautie  to  a|>|jif!icni!,   ih  :i  the  Brilisli   tfovniiint'iil 

Inu'^ii  to  SI  I  »j»  as  a  jirnK'i|ili  ,  tint  slic  lii*  n  i  !-'••  i'>  iiilt'iilicl  all 
j«oiiimei(e  l.y  netilr'is,  lo  tli»*  poMs  of  lu  r  i  a;  ijits,  mli  jxtils  liad 
linii  litrn  0|>rti('d  provioiisiy  lo  'hf  roniim  i.ii-m.  at  ««f  ho:;tiiirn'»  ;— 
[tliat  if  slir  |i(  I'liiitii  a  ti'.uif  mIiIi  tlxiii  ui  any  liri.'Mv,  l.*.<(  i\a»  r  ri^ht 
Ito  piisn  lid- ilu-  liin:ts  of  it;  lo  i  iv«sli>;aU'  tlic  iivUiition  o*  lliv  par- 
Itii's  prosiTi'tiiiij  il  ;  ami  if  siuli  iiUiil'oi)  Ijc  not  llu'  art  iiai  ('.isposi- 
jtiiiii  iif  iIh'  uioprrty  in  llic  artiti  at  country ,  S;- <  Misioef  llii' mil  <  iiiii- 
!«i!2t,  cvrii  aiwi  tlic  nnporlalioii  'iilo  siirh  roiinliy.  aftir  i'  ivint;  bfcu 
llanil  (1  t|»rit-iii,  Mau  liDiim  <l,  ami  ihf  tlii'ics  p:)itl  t>ti  J,  .is  nnlyi'n  ffis 
i/(7pp  ()/■(/  continued  and  dherl  yo'jcii"  ,f'om  'lie  ofotiu  lo  i'/)e  /;, I'/zfr 
cnuiitr:/,  or  vice  versa  ;  mkI  t  luicfDn-  liUjjul,  ami  liab'o  to  i  o:i<i«'mjja- 
Itidii 

"111  Komf  iii'ituuTH,  voiif  ni'iuiTi.il'ais  lim!  »i  »•  ir  «f'/'«.  on  t'firf.rsl 


Jn^^iie  /rom  tfie   XJhiitd  S'ti-i's  to  ltii'>j>f.  ur  (■ 


Cit  rifi 


I  nil 


'tieir 


ic'trscy  and  ivjunously  detained  under  t/ie  vexatious  pretence  of  a  "on- 


THE    OLIVE    P.UANCH. 


l\ 


i!! 


i  f 


i]liU 


tivnihi  ofr^yosie  from  th(:  counli'i  or  colon;/  of  n  f)(:Hig'?>cnt.  In  finolli.  f 
itiklHiK'c  thiy  liut'u  vMiiickscil  ii  m-sscI  <'ii|itii.<.'ii  nuii  rDntlcniMi  i!  toti/fr 
the  iiiosf  /iiroltiUf  prclr.xl,  tilicii  mi  (he  piosfniiioii  ot'hii  utknoit  i»' i,',,] 
iiiifi  pcriniMfil  Ini'lr,  uiulcr  nn  ^llllslnn^•l•^'  >»>ticli  h»iiiKlu'(i  t-vny 
sh:j(li)«t  of  tioiilil,  as  ID  the  rent  (le<tniu>  i>ii  <>/'  t/m  vtsscl,  the  tdenttiij„J 
the  ou'itersy  o>  the  uctwil  intention  tif  the  par'tes 

"  Ihrbf  fi>\v  iiiKSanctB  lliry  liavr  (tismi^iil  it  nretiful  to  nutir«,  in 
order  to  drmotiRtiafe,  that  iii»lrH»  iltv  p:rsi'iit  »tiS|U('jitioii  of  ihe 
Hrilisli  HdiHimKy  «t)tirlF,  nnd  iiiivy  <jffii'rip,riir  i>v  counteruciifri  und 
lemnveU,  »  widfly  (Jii>)it  rK^d  and  iiii|»i  ot«'rt»o  fOfimtt-M-t',  »-xi«'ii(|  !,|j 
to  rvtry   ie)»ioii   »f  tli»»  gloliP,  will  onl\  a<i"«>TO   INVITK  J>«'.PClici)4 

TION,  TO  BA  N  KUt'PT  OIIKSEI.VKB,  A  N  I>  KNKICii  imiF.RS,  CNlll, 
ILCH  ••MMKRCK  UK     !>W  I- ri      FROMTHK     F  A  C'K  OF  1  UK    OCKAN,anJ 

leave  iiolliiiig  iii  its  slt^ad,  t)ul  stiitiiiif lUs  At  liutttility  and  Hiliitf 
coiittiiiioii. 

**  A  tacit  futiiMission  to  pictcnRions  tJius  lofty  and  roir;)ri'hcn8ivc, 
but  mIiicIi  Nour  nDinoinihsii  iriitt  oie  moii  of  )h)-tn  n  'leiiHiile, 
woultl||lhf-y  roiicnve,  Ix    A%    AH  VN  donmkn  r  or  right-   (PKni.t 

KICOGNIEF.O,  AND  *  DEUFMCT  ON  OK  I  H>.  MO^.T  IMPtHirANT 
CUMMKRCl  A  I,  IN  1  KRESTS  OF    i>UR  COlJVTRY. 

"  Rt  Hsoii,  aud   thr  inont    pown-ful  <  i»u«iili'ialioii«  of  rqintv.  enjoin 

it  H8  A    rrry  ON   mii  l'mikd  sta  i  i:s  lo  oi'PpsE 

'J'HI'LSr.  PRIin^NSIONS^  f.ir  «  ircuii>Rl;n><td  as  I  liesr  hIHih  «rt<, 
po>s.t<Biiin  ao  iiiiin<ii«ily  extend"' 1  and  fnlilt'  lenitory,  |ii  wdnc'ifj;  . 
mostly  iltt  nect  Kjijiiies  «»t  iiCf,  whiili,  with  'he  nietcUiiKiize  ol)i,i,iid 
from  aliioad  by  itie  industry  and  enleipi  iz«  ot  her  citiz'iis,  sdtis 
obliiji'd  (n  b.MU'i,  <ir  iiirm.xh  in  |t'.iyineiil  to*  nnnoiiit'ons  of  foriM.n 
prndtirc  .11  'Jtifiii:*!  tiiren  ;  it  Inh^ven  her  flrenunHsbj  to  vontend  fo  tU 
rifiht  nf  nil  vjte»  cnrnmrrre  (k  invncent  artrclex  belivetn  ofhtr  nutiovi  that 
ati  JOitlin^  .o  am  rd  it,  and  hersef .,  for  i1  Ibc  ntlH  *>»'  noi  both  el  nni- 
eti  I'l'l  :tdn»a;e<i,  s'-aneiy  any  of  ibe  l^nrojican  itowirs  <'an  in  fiiMire 
be » DjjHtj'il  In  waifaic,  without  vmkmi.r  the  Vnited  Sfiret,  in  n())<os  imn 
bi)t!-  '.■  tier  <  11(11  lb  and  wislirs,  riTHEU  A  V  ICTIM  MR  PA  K TY  IN  THE, 
CONTKHT 

"  Yum  inefiion.ilijilP  rtnueive  these  pretensions  afi'ord  ronstrtul 
giio. '  f>.  <it'  t<.i.isi'»n,  1  oiHimially  Wiidin-i  (o  involve  these  staUs  n 
Ihi  ijiaiif  of  Ii«i 'tp»'aii  ivais,  and  wnnul  ohh'je  the  gnvernmeat  rni 
the  o<  <  111  i«.'tH.e  of  '<iu  h  vvHrs,  speediiy  to  unite  willi  one  oi  olbtn  ol 
thi  (»"iii«'«  III  iifiii-  fhrtt  tlie  (oinrneieeof  ihe  eonniiy  inisiht  lit*- 
ful  «  av.il  iigtiC  <»r  tome  d<',;)«e  of  Heeiirilv,  fmni  the  protcelioii 
whi'h  Its  n«ii  foree.  and  ih  it  of  its  allies  eoiild  aHoid.  To  lli's 
StHit  of  ibinifs,  \<«m-  men'oiMilmtR  believe  it  ean  iii  i!li<i  be  t  he  ill- 
teros'  nm  wish  of  theBi<li<^h  jrovprniiu-nl  to  reduce  our  eountry 

'*  The  iiio&l  teiiaiions  a'lvoeales  for  tlif  rights  of  beUi'^erenisi  'i- 
mil  that  diirinjr«,\.,  neutr  tis  have  a  nijht  to  enjoy  in  thenluist 
lai;li>(tf,  tilt' trade  to  vlt:  h  they  had  Im'pm  Berns'oiMed  in  tinn  of 
ptiie.  No*  if  the  !*rll"<  rr.it  has  th'' ■  i.'ht  to  blnekade  an  ex',  hi). 
cd  sea  -'i.*!  •K'.s  to  r.rr/ude  veufiril*  from,  psrhnpt^  fiftii  dif'-nni 
put'^,  ( ris  Wd'!  the  rose  with  th-i  French  ports  iv  the  chnnvef.  during  the  /<;" 
Will, J  hii\»  .an  (ht  neutr. <l  enjoy  Iiih  i><--  '  praee  Iradi^  in  its  j^ieatest 
latiliide,  unless  this  deprivation  is  I    ,.        .(  by  another  tr;'.dc,  which 


riU--.   OI.IVE  URANCH. 


•*.: 


ra 


it.  In  nnolli.  t 
iiilniiMi  <!  uuiltf 

l)!tnislii.'t>  i'viiv 
;,  the  nltntuij<,j 

1 1  (o  noUcf,  ill 
l>.>'jitioii  «>f  ilie 
countciucinti  un/i 
■i<t,   txlfiid  !pi; 

ITK   1H'.PU1£1)4 
ill!KR9,    LN1II, 
IK    OCKAN,  aiiij 
ily    and    aclstf 

coir',ii«'henBivf, 
inin   ij  'ie»Mi)le, 

IGHT-  iPliNI.T 
T    iMPtillCANT 

f  iqiiitv.  fnjnin 

lies*'    Si:H<H   nt, 

lory,  |»it»<J'in1l^ 

inii(iiz<!  a!)ia<iipd 

••iliz«'ii8,    «h»!  is 

nous  of  t'oivi.n 

o  contend  fo   >*<i 

ihtr   mUioiix  timt 

not  l)oth  clnni- 

IS  <•»•»  m  Ai'iire 

>-,  Ml  f»()pos  lion 

PARTY  IN  THE, 

Hfi'orii  C0il8(.<lil 

llitse    sta(«s  m 

wiiveriimf  lit  iin 

Line    oi  oUkm   >iI 

111)  V    liiiiiht  la*' 

\\u'    piotcrlioii 

Uoid.     To  this 

iilur   be  Uie  ill- 

|,m-  foiiti{ry 

|l)i-lli'^eriMi!>  H- 

iii   the  oliii'st 

[««•(!   in  timi   »' 

liUfle  an  rx'.i'ii- 

I',  .^'/?."  f /'#'«•''• 

'/  <luriitf>  the  U:" 

^  in  its  »;•♦'»••'»' 

Id-  ti-J-'Jc,  whitli 


Ts  fipci^ciHo  liim  (Inring  ilic  war  ? — As  in  \\\c  inqnisitorial  right  of 
'HiMii'li  int')  llic  iivv'K  i)iln(i  of  ncntral  |)i  opci  ty  S<'(  u|i  i)y  Griiil  lirit- 
;iiM,  au<i  Ihf  <li)<  trine  apptnilttl  lo  ii,  lki4i  a  n«iilral  ini|ioi'tiT  sliail 
not  aj{ttiii  t'X|M)ri  lis  u,«<>.is, 


l)U 


I  Ihal  iliiy  sliall   be  (irst  alit'natfti  and 
pressed   iiilrt   tbi'   iioxcssi'J!!   »f    othcts— \oni     nitinoii   lists    helii-ve 


tilt  in 


lo  be  LNSODNU  IN   S'OINTOI-    PRINCIPLE,  Ol  FEN- 


S'.VE    IN   PUACTICE,    AND  Nl'i.AIOUV   IN    EIFECr. 

'' Voui'  Micinoriuii'ilst  woitulwitb  itlm  t:i  k:  bilii'vt  bat  tiie  sa- 
rre<i  Inbumis  of  jnstirc  have  betomi'  snbsti vicnt  lo  ni«  ives  of  po- 
litirul  ('X|i('iiien('y,  more  e.'4 pre i ally  in  a  nation  vvbose  jmlicial  pio- 
ceeJin^s  b  ive  frrqiieotiy  di'servcit,  ami  eotnn  tnil' vl  tbe  respect  of 
all  civiiiznl  connliies— ytt  tliey  know  no>  i':i8ily  bo>v  lo  letonrile  on 
uny  otiit'i' i!*o<in'ls,  tl.c  cnnlraft'  toiy  p>oee(v!niir>i  oi'  ihc  Bnlisb  acl- 
uiiialty  roui'ls,  dniin<;  IbolasI  and  prtsent  war. 

"  At  any  rate,  wlielluT  the  dor  rine  were  souml  or  not,  or  wheilier 
it  injured  Great  Britain  or  not,  it  cannot  become  tbe  iittetjrity  and 
mtSi/dniiniiy  of  a  t;re:'.t  and  powcrCul  nation,  al  oiu'o,  and  wilbont 
notice,  to  revi'ise  lier  rnlf  <»t  <  oMilnrI  towarils  o  ber  sfatr-s,  and  TO 
PliEY  UPON  THK  UNPRi  TECTED  PKOPEIITY  OP  A 
FRIEN'DLV  POVV  Ell,  ibe  extension  of  wbose  joinmerce  bad  been 
iiivtti'd  by  ibe  fornMl  avowal  of  ber  intenliona,  and  piosii  nted,  under 
arQiiance  on  ber  ^ood  fait  b,  and  from  liie  roiifuleiice  reposed,  Ibat 
her  ronrls,  nnilbrin  in  ibeir  prinriple<j,  wv»utd  never  be  iniluenccd  by 
the  litne-serviii;;  politics   of  tbe  nionient. 

"  In  ill  event*.,  fully  relyinsi  lliat  tbe  snbjerl  of  onr  difference  with 
(iirat' Britain  will  leceire  the  due  con^idctation  of  unrernment  •,  and 
ihat  Siicb  ineasnies  »vitl  in  eonseqnenee  he  prompili/  (tdnp.'ed  df.  ^v\\l 
tend  to  DISEMBAllH\SS  O^^K  COM  M  ERCE— ASSI- RT  OTR, 
RKJHIS—AiND. SUPPORT  THE  DIGNIIYOP  IllEUNllED 
STATES. 

"  Vonr  inemorialints  have  tbe  honour  to  remain,  in  behalf  of  their 
constituents  and  themselves,  most  respectfully, 


James  Lloyd,  juii. 
Daviil  (ireeii, 
Arnold  Welles, 
David  Sears, 
Boston,  Jan  '_'L»,  ISoli. 


John  Jones, 
f»r'M!ie  Cabof, 
Thoaiab  Peikins. 


To  this  memorial  I  requeft  the  particular  attention 
ot  the  reader.  No  man  can  pretend  to  form  a  cortcft 
opinion  on  the  condu(:l  ot  the  two  parties  that  divide 
the  nation,  without  being"  tu'lv  poflcired  ot  tlie  tenor 
ot  this  and  the  other  fimilar  dov:u  nent.s.  Bcfides  the 
contents,  I  wilh  two  of  the  fignitures  to  be  molt  par- 
ticularly adverted  to.  Thev  are  thofe  of  George  C  tbot 
and  James  Lloyd,  jun.  The  former  gentleni.in  is  now 
on  his  way  to  the  conventiou  at  Haitfoid,  whofe  pro- 


JQA!^ 


74i 


THE  OLLVE    BnAN«H. 


I  > 


t'4 


fcfTcd  obji'B.  Is  to  form  fome  afTociation  among  the  com- 
mercial ilates  tor  ttie  protettioii  oi  commerce. 

This  gentleman  explicitly  ftates,  that  unlefs  "  the 
present  di/po/iti on"  that  is,  the  difpofition  in  1803  ;  for 
as  the  remonftrance  was  (halted  in  January,  1806,  it 
muft  refer  to  the  proceedings  of  the  preceding  year) 
*'  of  the  Britifh  admiralty  courts,  and  navy  officers  can 
be  countera6led  and  removed,  a  widely  dijperfed  and  UU' 
proteded  commerce^  extending  to  every  region  of  the  globe ^ 
will  only  ferve  to  invite  depredation,  to  bankrupt 
OURSELVES,  and  enrich  others,  until  fuch  com- 
merce be  fwept  from  the  face  ot  the  ocean." 

Mr.  Cabot  further  ftates,  that  *'  a  taat  suhmijjion  to 
pretenfions  thus  lofty  would  be  an  abandonment  of  rights 
openly  recognized,  and  A  dereliction  of  the 
most  important  commercial  interests  of 
our    country." 

And  he  adds — "  Reafon  and  the  moft:  powerful  con- 
fidcrations  of  equity  enjoin  it  as  a  duty  on  the  United 
States  to  oppofe  these  pretenfions'^ 

He  further  Piates,  that  thfjc  pretenfions  are  '*  unfound 
in  point  of  principle,  off'enjwe  in  pratlice,  and  nugatory 
tn  effear 

And  bv  way  of  capping  the  climax,  he  explicitly 
charges  Great  Britain,  with  "  PREYING  UPOiNJ  THE 
UNPROTECTED  PROPERTY  OF  A  NEUTRAL 
POWER." 

He  and  his  friends  then  call  upon  the  government 
*'  promptly  to  adopt  fuch  meafures  as  might  disembar- 
rass our  commerce — affert  our  rights — and  support  the 
dignity  of  the  United  States.'' 

This  call,  fo  ftrong  and  fo  folemn,  implied  with  equal 
ftrength  and  folemnity  a  pledge  oi  fupport.  It  behoves 
Mr.  Cabot,  who  is  now  called  on  publicly  in  the  face  ot 
his  cc.  ntry.  to  point  out  any  inftarice  in  which  he  lenl 
his  aid  io  trie  govcrn:ncnt  in  the  purfuit  of  rcdrefs. 


THE   OLIVE    BRANCH. 


rif 


CHAP.  VI. 


Extracts  from  ^'*eu'-York  Memorial.  Equalbj  explicit 
mid  pointed  with  that  from  Boston.  The  pretensions  of 
Great  Britain  a  violation  of  the  law  of  nations.  Ji  strung 
and  peremptorij  call  for  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  gov- 
ernment. Solemn  pledge  of  support.  Long  list  of  si  pi- 
ers. 


.« 


"  Tliey  Iiave  1)ccn  suddenly  confounded  1)y  tincx]icr.tcd  intelligence 
of  (lie  airt'Stalioii,  <in  the  liinh  avns,  of  a  larj^e  portion  of  tlicir  pro- 
perty, wliicli  h;ul  been  omhnrkcd  witli  the  most  iinbiKsptctinj;  confi- 
dence The  feelings  of  your  inemorislists  are  not  only  excited  by 
the  losses  wliich  they  have  actually  s»staine«l,  in  eonsecinence  of  a 
measure  insiisccptihle  of  previous  calculation,  hut,  also,  from  the  state 
of  uncertainty  in  wliich  they  are  placed  with  respect  to  future  coinnier- 
tial    pcralioiis 

•»ln  the  recent  decision,  which  i)rohiI)its  an  inipni'tcr  of  colnuial  pro- 
diu'e  from  exprnfinrii  lo  Kiirope.  tliey  perceivi;  Mitli  concern,  eitlur  rt 
ntigatoru  ami  vextttious  reqiilation,  ot-  n  meditcttd  blow  at  what  tiny 
(hem  ail  iiicovtcstiltle  iind  valuuhle  riglit. 

"  If  tiic  arrival  of  a  shi,  in  tht  country  to  which  it  belongs  ;  tlie  land- 
ing of  tlie  cargo;  the  inspection  of  the  custom-house  ;  the  iiaynient  or 
security  of  duties,  do  not  terniinKte  a  voyage,  then  we  confess  our  igno- 
rance on  a  point  which,  never  having  been  before  «|uestiorn  d,  has  been 
assumed  by  us  as  an  acknowledged  truth.  !lf  the  entry  for  exportation  ; 
the  embarkation  of  merciiandize  ;  the  reinB{)ection  of  tlic  custom-house  ; 
the  bond  for  securing  a  delivery  in  a  foreign  coiuitry  ;  and  a  public 
clearance  do  not  indicate  the  commencement  of  a  new  voyage— then 
ve  are  yet  to  le  rn  the  meaning  of  the  expression. 

*'  But  these  embarrassnients,  though  perplexing  and  vexatiotis,  arc 
jiot  'hose  which  principally  occasion  our  solicitude;  w«  «re  compelled 
to  consider  the  hile  decisions  of  the  British  tribunals  us  preliminary 
steps  towards  a  system  for  controlling  the  importations  and  exportatlons 
of  colonial  productions,  and  thereby  ANNIHILATING  THE  MOST 
LUCRA  riVK  BRANCHES  OF  OUR  COMMERCE.  If  we  owed 
this  trade  solely  to  the  favour  of  Great  Britain,  still  we  might  ask  what 
urgent  motive,  what  imperious  necessity,  required  that  the  favour  should 
be  resumed  at  a  period  when  our  comm^u'ce  was  spread  over  the  ocean, 
ai.d  when  a  change  so  essential  might  destroy  its  security,  and  subject 
us  to  incalculable  losses.  We  deny,  however,  that  the  >  ights  of  com« 
niercu,  as  claimed  by  us  ar«  to  be  deemed  favour.*;  on  the  contiary, 
if  the  Into  of  nutons  is  ot'cr  than  a  tempora^'tj  rule,  prescribed  by  tni 
arbitrary  ivill,  and  enforced  by  poiver,  ilicn  we  appeal  to  its  most  uni- 
versal and  ir>violablc  princi  le  ni  our  .'efence.  This  piinciple  is,  that 
the  goods  of  a  neuti*al,  consisting  of  articles  not  cO'trabund  of  war,  in  a 
neutral  vessel,  employed  in  a  direct  tra'le  between  neutral  countries  and 
ports  of  a  belligei.'Ut  country  not  invested  or  hloekinled,  ait  |irotected, 

"  liMtever  iheorL'tical  opinions  may  thercfoie  have  been  advanced, 
there  has  existed  no  audi  practical  rule  ;  which,  uuUer  the  uuparulleittd 


Ml 


Ml 


^K-*: 


'6 


.TUE    OLIVE   DRANfifH. 


• -'''1   If' 


clrctimstanL'cs   fif  tlie   present  war,   must    im^alliblt   dkstiioy  Tiir 

CO.MMKHCI    «IK  Tills  lOl'.NTIlV. 

'•  With  llifsc  j)itliuiin:wy  la  ts  in  view,  we  riqmst  pi-iiiiinsioii  to  dc- 
tail  some  ot  tlic  most  iini)t"rtiiiit  coiisequdicts  ot  llic  abhumetl  iiile,  tliat 
III  uUhIs  niuy  be  reHiaintd  in  tirnu  of  Mar  to  llicir  ucrubtom(.-il  irmtb  m 
time  of  peace  Tlii*  injustice  of  kiieli  a  rule,  in  relation  to  the  L'liitH 
.M!,tes,  will  Ijc  most  nuiiilest ;  the  iiiilividiiMls  eiijilojed  in  commirie 
would  not  alone  l»c  (ttlt-ileil :  ui/  the  inti'mul  vela  ions  uf  our  countnj 
tvoiild  be  <!istuil/ed  the  inteic^ta  of  tliuse  ilstrutn  tvhich  are  most  rg. 
viotefrom  our  princ.Jml  {lorts,  icouhl,  m  fm-pot  tion  to  iktr  depeudence 
0/1  ffjieiLti  BVppltei,  be  most  aexei  cly  dt-prenKed. 

•'It'  Great  iiit'in  jiennit.*  coimntrce  betivecn  her  niibjfct"  and  the 
colo'iea  ;/  her  enemies,  may  we  not  wiili  the  consent  of  those  colonies, 
p;.rlicil>ate  in  llu  sii  e  eommene  ?  If  oui  connneiee  with  the  ciienrks 
of  Cireat  Miitain  may  now  he  confihei!  t<»  the  systi  m  estahlisheil  in  lin.e 
til  peace,  may  we  not  a|.jir<  heml  hwt  the  princiijl.-  *'"  '"-'  retaliate)'  in 
vefjiect  to  our  commen-e  with   the  colonies  ol  (ireat    Uritain  .'   In  that 

case,   WHAT  CAN    KNSIK    I!LT   WAIl,    l'l|,I,AUK   AND  ItKVASTATION   ? 

•'These  are  not  ima^inaiy  Buppo.sitions  They  illustrate  the  mon 
important  piineiples  ol  our  emnmerce.  They  evii:ce  llie  necessity  ol"  s 
circuitous  tra  'e  to  enah  u  us  to  lenlize  the  threat  value  of  exports  ol" 
our  "ttii  native  prcxluctions,  hy  wliiih,  alone,  we  acquire  the  power  to 
liquidate  the  h.d.mce  ••gmnsi  us,  in  oiii  eoiiiKieice  with  (iieat  lli'itaiii; 
I  hey  ilemonstraie,  that  the  position  ucrninut  tvhich  tve  con(eTi(l,is  not  n 
rule  iif  the  laiv  of  nalions-  The  lOw  of  uatiuns  ordainn  no  rule,  ivhic!: 
ia  liiicfjiuif  anil  unjust 

"  It  is,  however,  with  much  surprise,  that  we  have  re  cntly  iliscovennl 
that  the  very  cir  umslances  upon  wh.eh  our  hopes  of  security  were  re- 
pi  s<  (I,  have  been  urged  as  in^jnmcnts  to  juNlify  un  invasion  olour  riplils; 
and  lUaX.  ^"  hiivincf  totntlfi  suppressed  the  external  commerce  of  he' 
ent'tii:es  Great  Jiiitiunts  noiu  counselled  to  upp'opriuie  to  herself  that 
nf  her  frietuh. 

"  H«rel\  the  security  of  neutral  rif^hts  ought  not  to  diminish,  as  llieii* 
value  is  augmented.  Surely  a  maritime  preponcJerancy  which  enahlcs 
its  possessor  to  hlockade  any  of  the  ports  of  its  enemies,  conveys  no 
just  title  to  a  monopoly  of  tiie  commertieof  the  worhl 

"  in  thr  list  of  our  complaints  we  cannot  forbear  to  enumerate  the 
liiimiliating  and  opp'  t  ssive  conduct  of  ships  of  war  in  the  vicinity  w 
our  coasts  and  h  m  Lour  .  We  respect  tin  principle  and  emulate  the 
conduct  of  Gic.i  liritain,  in  rega  <i  to  her  own  jurisiliction  :  and  wi; 
wish  merely  to  claim  for  oumslvea  the  same  meuaiire  of  justice,  -ivh.cl. 
she  e.vdcCs  from  others. 

*•  This  view  ot  the  sulject,  wliile  it  excites  our  anxiety,  furnishes,  al- 
so, u  resource  lor  our  hopes ;  we  wish  only  for  justice,  and  helievins 
that  a  commercial  natio  .  which  disregartls  justice,  thereby  undermint; 
the  citailel  of  her  power;  we  rely  on  the  eff  ct  of  mutual  interests  and 
wishes  in  promoting  a  cordial  explanation  and  fair  adjustment  of  evcrv 
cause  of  misur.derstainling;  in  particular,  we  rely  on  the  goverjimen'. 
nf  our  counti't/,  thut  our  rights  rjtll  not  be  abandoned  and  tint  no  wr- 
gnment  in  Javour  of  an  usurpation  ivill  ever  be  derived  front  otir  ac 
ijuiescence. 

"  Vour  memorialists  concUnle  with  remarking,  that  they  deem  tli: 
]trcsent  situation  of  pihlic  afl'airs  to  be  peculiarly  critical  and  perilous; 
and  sBch  as  requires  all  the  prudence,  the  wisdoni  and  the  energy  oi 
vhe  goTcrntBei.t,  su^JporleU  by  the  co-operation  «t"  all  good  citizens.    B} 


I'I'fl  ' 


IHT.  OLIVE    BHANCII. 


77 


UKsTIIOr    Tllf 

•mission  to  dc- 
iiue«l  lull',  that 
tomeil  liarh-  m 
to  llic  L'liitfil 
I  in  conunii'ie 
'if  our  cuuHlvj 
:/i  are  most  re. 
,ir  depeudenci 

bjfct"  and  the 
lliose  colonies, 
til  the  cnt'iiiics 
l)lislifil  ii)  tin.t: 
l)c  iTtiiliatfii  ill 
rituiii  ?   ill  tliat 

TION  ? 

tratc  tlic  mo't 
;  necessity  of  n 

of  export*  oi 
t  the  power  to 
(Vieat  Uritniii ; 
ntend,  is  itot  <i 

no  rule,  -uihic': 

ntlv  iliscove!  oil 
:urily  were  rc- 
)  of  our  riglits; 
mmerce  of  lie' 
to  herself  ihal 

Tiiniah,  as  t!iei" 
wliich  enables 
es,  conveys  no 

numernte  tli^ 

the    %icinity  o^ 

I  emalatc  the 

tion  :   and   «r 

justice,  -ivh.cl. 

furnishes,  'A- 
aii(i  beiieviii;. 
y  underniiiii. 
I  interests  an'i 
luent  of  ever. 
e  goverrimei.- 
nd  th  it  fio  (II  • 
I  from  oar  ac- 

liey  deem  tlie 
and  perilous; 
the  energy  oi 
citizens.    B) 


rriUtual  cxc  rtions,  under  the  benign  influence  of  providetjco  upon  tliis 
hitherto  favoured  n.tion,  we  hopi-  the  clouds  which  threaten  lo  ohsciire 
Its  prosperity  mav  be  .lis  elled.  Jt.Vn  fVH  PLlinfiP.  UR 
U.y/TED  SUPPORT  LY   FMOUR  OF  At.L    THE    ME.l- 

sviiDS  jnoPTEJ)  TO  vi.ynivATt:  a.vi)  secure  the 

JC^T  RIGHTS  OF  OUR  COUJSTRY. 


JNtfw  Yorkt  Dec. 38,  1805; 


Signed  on  behalf  of  the  merchants,  by 

John  Broome,  chairmanf 
Oliver  Wolcott, 
.lolin  Franklin, 
IsHHc.  Lawrence, 
Thoma-  Carpenter, 
.Idli     Taylor, 
Henry  JWyckoflT, 
(ieo"};e  .M     Woolsey, 
J).ivid  \\.  Clarksun, 
(ioelct  Httyt, 
ElishaCoit. 
.lolin  II    Murray, 
LtttVrt  LefFerts, 
Samuel  \.  Laurence, 
lloherl  Lenox, 
John  Murray, 
George  Cii'iswuld, 
Henry  Post, 
John  It.  Livingston, 
William  Henderson, 
Daniel  Ltidlow, 
Samuel  Itnssel, 
James  Ardon, 
William  Lovet, 
Edmoud  Seaman, 


6* 


James  Maxwell, 
Hen    Uuiley, 
Thoinws  Farmer, 
\V.  Kdgar, 
Wynant  Vjjij  Zandt, 
Charles  WH'ght, 
John  Do  Peyster, 
J.  Clason, 
Win    Clarkson, 
John  U   Coles, 
yXrchihald  (jracie, 
}ienjanun  C  Minturn, 
Willinn  Hayard, 
Gulian  Ludlow, 
Eben    Stevens, 
Rtnsselner  Havens, 
Peter  Shermerhorn, 
Wm.  W.    Woolsey, 
James  Scott, 
Jolia  P    Mumford, 
Charles  M'Kvers,  jun, 
John  Kane, 
John  Clendining, 
Wni.  Codman. 


(  1 


f 


'fn.t 


•#•      -,   ^A 


rt 


TIIK    OI.rVE    BnANCIf. 


uk 


CIIAP.  VII. 


IC.ctractsfrnm  the  xM'mnrial  of  the  Merdwnis  of 
J'hiludciphiu. 

1  proceed  to  ft.iti'  the  feniin;onts  ot  tlu*  mcrcliaii! 
ot  the  great  citv  of  Pliilacle!;>hia,  on  this  iiivaCioii  oi 
their  riiThts  and  the  ri^iits  of  the  nation.  We  (liall  T  ^ 
that  they  felt  the  fame  fcnfe  o\  the  iiijulliec  of  thil. 
inealiirc^  with  their  hietlircM  of  Rollon  and  New. 
York — Miadc  the  fame  iionir  recjiiifition  tor  proteHion— 
and  <f:!;dvc.  an  e(|ual  pleduo  of  full  i'ii)poit.  TIcv  Hate 
that  a  fnhniinion  to  thefe  claims  ot  Great  ISi  itam, 
*'  would  pyouure  the  ruin  of  tndivHlnah — the.  di'JInu- 
/ion  of  their  mnmcrce — and  the  di^iiradation  of  their 
•  ouiiiry." 

To  prevent  thele  mifrhty  evils,  tlicy  required  the  inter- 
ierence  of  tiie  yovcrnment,  wliieh,  at  their  rcijuifuioii, 
did  interfere.     Wc  fliall  fee  the  refuh. 


,  S 


fe 


if 


*♦  A  jcnlniisy  nf  our  entorprlzc  ami  prosperity  'ms  cxritcd  a  dcsitrn  oi 
tlirckiiip;  tlie  cunnMcri'ial  jriowili  (if  our  country,  ilii-  fruit  of  wliu'li  has 
liiv.fn  till  attempt  to  iimnviitL'  upon  ntipit'iil  Htu\  iip])rove(l  priiicipli  s,  aiiij 
iiiti'odnce  U!ilii-iU'<l  of  iirlicks  :iri(|  pi  ovisinns  into  tliu  code  of  puhiic  hv. 

•'  We  niorcovi-r  rurtjsee,  in  the  prevideiitt-  <  t"  tli>'  principlt-s,  and  in 
t'lio  contiiiii:in>«'  of  tlu;  pnuuicis  alliKtiil  to,  iiotliinj!;  Iiul  tiik  iilmn  ui' 
iviii  viDV  VIS,  Tui;  nKS'niLcrioN  op  tiikiii  commkiuk,  and  tiik  nt- 
I,  UAi)\rni\  OF  TiiKiu  couNTiiy.  (Jould  tlio  jiidfrinunt  or  cvi  n  the 
licir  ly  o.  your  iiifiiiornl  sis  seo.  in  tlie  iu:w  «loctriiusof  llie  Hriiisli  mini, 
TiotMiii;  1)111 '.lu;  r«tvivj|  nnd  eid'orc(!inent  of  nn  nnclcnt  and  estiildislitil 
priniipli-  wliicli  triendsliip  had  rcIiiM-d,  or  favour  ptrmittcd  to  sluinlur, 
ti:f\  Miii^lit  ri'piret  ilic  departed  i^o(Kl,l)Mt  coultl  iinjiutc  no  injusticf  to  tic 
liMiid  tl'iit  withdrew  it.  Tiny  nn:  striuk,  however,  with  tlie  novelty  'i 
iht'Sf  doftrines  ;  their  ?iiii'quh"jcti/  hofiti'ity  to  neutral  intei'estx  mill 
f-'q-fiti  ;  t/icir  inconsintcncii  tvithfurmtv  declarationx  tjf  t/ic\r  7)uinsin, 
:»nd  d  I'isirns  of  their  conits  ;  and  with  llie  extraordinary  time  ami 
luau;!'  r  ol  their  nnuunciation. 

"  Tli.'d  policy,  not  jnsii<e, — tlint  interest,  not  fair  and  Bdmitted  pre- 
f'edent,  hiivi.-  i;neti  hjrlh  to  the  principle,  tliat  nenirals  should  be  re- 
.•^trictoil  to  the  s.iit.e  commerce  with  a  belligerent,  vhich  was  allowed  io 
*!ieni  hy  lljnt  itowir  in  time  of  peace,  is  conceived  by  your  meniori:dists 
to  1)0  incompatible  with  the  general  freedom  of  neulrsil  comnune. 
This  rule  has  tlie  sanction  of  no  common  observance  by  civilizrd  na- 
tions, and  cMunot  bear  that  f.iilhful  tost  which  every  fair  and  ri^hltO'Os 
t  riucii>iO  of  the  law  cf  nations  will  abide. 


;■ 


XHB    OI.IVE    ORAN'OU. 


70 


tc»l  a  (lesiirn  oi 


nou  iingiitistMi'toi'}  to  (lie  l)i  !li. 

•SI  to-iJiM'ATiO".     W  hat  c.l.ar 

*,  tJiri  tliHl  \>v,  roui-  mciiio- 

.1     lii^li  cnui't  oi'  :i(lii>irHlty, 

.ti:il   wliK  li    1%  pi'ostrulcil  l)y  tim 


«'  The  effect  of  th'n  novel  principle  iin«Mi  ticitrnl  interest!  is  of  tlio 

rntisi  si-rionH  iinil    Hhtnuinj;  cliHi-ai'lcr      Ir  an    -  m   noibinh  ««iif»HT  nt 

TitK  IlKHThlU'TliiN    «)!•     M.DTHil.    tllMMKIirK{    lii    ■!     luni    IIm'   Well   kliOWll 

ni'iitra!  siliiiiiioii  hihI  cliiiPiictoi"  of  tin    I'niird  StMfn,  t(i  nothing  short  nj 
in/iictiiiif  (I  f/ioW  t/fc/*  tiiiil  ilcuiUji  woiinil  ufton  their  trade. 

"  Mill  voni-  III)  .iioi'ittliHtH  ciinnnt  Imi  <'<iiisi>tr?i',  tli:jt  this  |iriiu'i|ilo  li!t<t 
not  lliL  wi^itrlit  ol  n  conHiilfiit  ami  uiiilofiii  sti;tiii>i  (  l>y  llio  Kovrrnmi'iif, 
mIiicIi  iirolftiRfS  ((I  u|tli()1il  it.  In  1801  ilic  ilri-lKinllons  o:  its  ministry 
mill  till.'  lU'C.iHioiis  u\  lis  «ourt8,  w«  ri-,  iiik  i|i>iv()callv,  "  that  tin'  proiluctJ 
uf  iho  ci)loi)ii'S  ot  the  tnrniv  may  In-  im|i«irtctl  \>y  a  htiitiril  ii.t«»  hit 
own  cniintfy,  '\iv.\  he  ro-«;xp()ftt<l  .rom  liicnct ,  » vcii  to  tliu  inoilifi' 
cotntiv  of  such  colony  ;"  itml  iiIho  ;  *'  tlmt  liniilin^  tiie  rooiIs  m  d  pay- 
ing the  ilutifs  ill  llic  iii'Ulriil  euiintry,  hi-faks  ilu- continuity  ol  ilie  voy- 
ngi-,  unil  is  biicli  nii  iiiiporMiiion  hs  Ii  {;uliH«  »  the  trinle,  ultliriii}r|i  iht-  i^uoils 
be  ff»hii»p*-"«l  '"  'hi-  suine  vtsMiU,  iiiiti  on  acconnt  of  ilic  same  m  iiIimI 
projiricto  s.  iintl  tbrwiirdcil  I'of  iulf  to  the  mollar  cnnntry."  In  lfi().», 
it  iH(leciilt.il,  lli:tt  landi  j^aiiil  p:ivii));  tliiii  <loes  not  hroiik  the  com  ninly 
ol' tilt'  V(iMi};u  ;  uinl  lliitt  the  coiiise  ol  .  .kIc  pointed  out  to  the  ikimiiiI 
liiir  year'*  hct'ore,   as   lL'a;:d  and    s«t'<-,    ^ 

m'li'llt,  and    AT  IhSllK'l)    l>K4I.L,imLV      v 

mill  iniiiiutHlilf  priHtiplo   .I'tlK;  law  ot    n 

naUil'J  would  ak,   which  is  supported 

:tiid  avowed  hy    the  ininisiry    in    I8'H, 

iniiiisiiy  and  ilic  hij;li  eoiirl  of  uppi  ;dK  in   180.)  '  luch  ..    jnin  if)lr  innat 

bf  ettmidereil  (i»  purtakinif  rather  of  the  ulnfun^  rhiixulir  "f  come' 

nil. ice,  than  of  tha.  nf  l>ermancnt  riqht  iniil  ettablnhnt  lavj. 

"  The  timi.'  and  iiiuiiii.  r  of  aiiiiot4nciiik;  it  ;i<  cord  with  tlio  principle 
ilselC.  At  a  inoniuiit  when  i.itrcaiilile  vnleri»rize,  coni'idinu;  n  tiie  ex- 
jiinnntions  ou  this  point  j;ivon  by  the  ilrilisli  minisiry  to  oiw  ai.ihinsiiilor, 
WHS  strained  to  tiie  utmost,  «  new  drcicion  'if  \\m  court  of  .ippeHlH  Is 
nniiouncid,  and  ^^ F.vcrti  naif  ia  ntretch,-d  to  collect  the  uniuari/ 
.Imericaiis,  who  are  umtiupccUngly  conjiding  in  \Dhut  ivaa  the  law  of 
nations 

"  In  tlie  principles  they  have  here  suhmUted  to  yn»r  consideration, 
tlicv  fi'il  idl  I  lie  co.ifideiice  of  justice,  and  all  the  teniiciiy  of  truth.  'I'o 
surrender  litem.  'Jieij  conceive,  'ivnuiil  derogate  from  the  national  char- 
acter and  inJe/Hiitlence  of  the  United  States  From  tin-  lU-lne  of 
sjnveinment  thi-y  liopi-  tor  their  avowal  ;  from  the  s/iiru  of  government 
they  hope  for  their  defence  ;  and  from  the  blcssinj^s  of  heaven  they 
JiOjte  for  tlii'ir  estalilish.'iicnt. 

*'  As  citizens,  they  cl.iiin  protection  ;  and  they  conceive  that  the 
idniin  is  enforced  by  the  consiileration,  that  from  their  industry  and  eii- 
tcrpnze,  is  illected  a  revenue  which  no  nation  has  been  able  to  tqual, 
wiiiio'it  a  con  espondeut  expense  for  tlie  proliclion  of  the  means 

"  'I'o  preserve  [leace  witli  :dl  nations,  is  admitted  witiiout  reserve,  to 
be  both  the  interest  and  the  policy  of  the  United  States.  They  there- 
fore presume  to  sunj^cst,  that  every  measure,  nut  inconsistent  with  the 
honour  of  the  nation,  by  wliich  the  j^reat  ol)jects  ol  redress  and  scciiritv 
may  be  attained,  should  first  be  used.  If  such  measures  piove  inetfec- 
tiiid,  whatever  may  he  the  sacrifice  on  their  part,  it  xettl  he  met  ivith 
SHhmisa  on.  Hut  whatever  measures  may  be  pursued  by  their  {govern- 
ment, your  memorialists  ex;.ress  the  fii'inest  faith,  that  every  caution 
will  be  used  to  preserve  private  property  aiul  mercantile  credit  from 
violation." 

Thos.  Fiusimous,  chairman.        K.  £.  llobart.  See. 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


i/i 


so 


THE    OLIVE   MRANCU. 


John  Crnig, 
\V    Sims, 
Kobi'it  Ualstcn, 
J.'trncs  Yar*l, 
Jficob  (ieiard  Koch, 
Tliomas  W    Francis, 
Tliniuiis  RnstJisli, 
>los  |)li  ii.  i.<  WIS, 
William   .Mouisoinery, 


Abraham  Kintzing, 
Philip  \l  klin, 
Thomas  Allibone, 
George  Latimer, 
ChandU'r  Price, 
L.  (/lapier, 
Daniel   VV .  Cnxe, 
Robert  \V,>ln, 
Manuel  Eyre. 


The  preceding  lift  embraces  decided  men  of  both  the 
hofliie  paitles,  and  ot"  various  nations — Americans,  En- 
glilb,  Irilh,  French,  and  Dutch. 


CHAP.   VIII. 

Extracts  from  the  Memorial  of  the  Merchants  of 

Baltimore, 


■J\i 


The  memorial  of  the  merchants  of  Baltimore  is  more 
difFufe  and  more  argumentative  than  any  of  the  preced- 
ing. It  is  a  moft  maft^erly  compofition — and  may  be 
regarded  as  a  complete  and  unanfwerable  defence  of  neu- 
tral  rights  againft  belligerent  pretenfions  and  encroach- 
ments.  Its  maxims  ought  to  be  committed  to  memory  by 
every  ftatefman  in  all  countries  whofe  intereft  it  is  to  pre- 
fervc  a  neutral  fituation. 


♦'  It  would  not  he  desired  that  the  state  of  things,  which  Great  Brit- 
ain had  hi;rseU' prescribed,  and  whicii  use  and  habit  had  rendered  famil- 
iar anil  intelligible  to  all,  should  be  disturlied  by  oppressive  innovations; 
far  less  that  these  i  novations  should,  by  a  tyrannical  retrospection,  be 
nixde  to  justify  the  seizure  and  confiscation  of  their  property,  committed 
to  the  high  seas,  under  tlie  protection  of  the  existing  rule,  and  -without 
•warning  of  the  intend  d  change.  In  this  their  just  hope,  your  numo- 
rialists  have  b.  ei  fatally  disappointed.  Their  vessels  and  effec  s,  to  a 
large  amoniit,  have  lately  been  captured  by  the  commissontd  cmizeri 
of  Great  Britain,  upon  the  foundation  of  ne-w  principles,  auddenly  in- 
vented  and  applied  lo  this  habitual  traffic  ;  and  suggested  and  pr(/rQiii- 
gated,  for  the  first  time,  by  sentences  of  condemnation  ;  by  which,  k;i- 
avoidable  ignorance  has  been  contidereu  as  criminal,  and  an  honourable 
confidence  in  the  justice  of  a  fritndly  nation  pursued  -with  penalty  and 
forfeiture 

'•  Your  menioriidists  are  in  no  situation  to  state  the  precise  nature nf 
the  rules  to  which  tbeir  most  important  interests  have  been  thus  sacri- 
Weed  :  aud  it  is  not  the  least  of  their  coiuplaiuts  against  them,  that 


••  ,  ii,  !« 


■'^^sm^P'^ 


THE    OLIVJt    BRANCH. 


81 


h  Great  Bri'.- 


(lieu  are  undefined  n?itl  uu(lf/ina!i!e  ;  eqntvocnl  in  their  form,  and  the 
fit  iiiftnunents  of  opfircssion  / »/  reiusoti  o;  thrir  avih  guity. 

"  Viiur  iiiciiiori  lisi^  will  noi  lu  re  sif)])  to  eiKiuirc  ujion  wliat  grnund 
ot  I;i\v  01  reiuoii  Uu  SiUiie  «ct  is  hi  lil  to  t)*;  li'ijiil,  wlit-n  coniint- in-tnl 
vith  one  ibt<Milioii  anrl  ilh'sal  wlieii  iiiult'itakin  »>  ill»  another.  But 
thcv  oijett,  in  the  stronpesi  terms,  !igii  nst  th  s  nt  w  cr  ti  ri'>n  ot  U'ShIi- 
tv,  liecanse  ot  its  ine\it>«Me  teiKirncy  to  injtis  ice:  btcansi*  oi'  its  peil' 
fniv  cn/tuciti/  to  embur  ass  iv  th  seizure,  and  ruin  tvith  conjiscation, 
tlie  rjhoh'  of  our  trade  ivith  Eu  ope  in  the  svrf>'us  of  our  colonial  ini- 
pui  uitinns 

"  li  llie  t  nsi  qui-nces  to  that  tritffie  were  not  intended  to  be  seriotis, 
and  exleiisive,  s-nd  permanent,  yonr  memorialists  senrch  in  vain  lor  the 
motive,  by  vvhieii  a  sihte.in  amity  with  our  own,  and  morer)ver  conneil- 
ed  witli  It  by  the  liis  ot  common  interest,  to  wliieh  m:uiy  tonsiikratioiis 
rcem  to  give  pceuKfii-  strength,  h.iS  bi.-.  n  indncrd  to  iiidtd.c  in  a  parox- 
ism ol  c!«pri<;ioiis  aggression  upon  our  riiihts,  by  wliicii  it  dJFlionours  it- 
tell',  witlioiit  promo  ing  any  oflliosegre.it  interests  for  which  an  en- 
lif^litened  nati  m  miiy  faiilj  be  sohciioiis,  .niid  wliici  only  a  steady  regard 
to  justice  can  ultimately  secure.  When  we  see  a  powerful  state,  it» 
pdsst'ssion  of  a  eon.nu  rce,  ol  w' ich  the  world  ail'ords  no  e.\amples,  cn- 
tluiivouring  to  iiiterpolnte  into  the  laws  of  nations  casuistical  Inieeties  ami 
w!iy\\ard  diolinctions,  which  forbid  a  cit  zen  of  another  independent 
cninincrciMl  country  to  exi)ort  tVon»  that  country  what  unqueslioiiaMy 
l,i.l(3ngs  to  him,  only  bccuuse  he  imported  it  himself,  and  yet  allow  liiia 
tu  sell  u  \\'^\\\  of  cNporlin.  it  to  anollicr  ;  wiiich  proliibii  an  end  becr.usc 
il  arise-  cut  of  one  i.iten  ion,  but  permit  it  when  it  arises  out  of  two; — 
whicii,  dividinj;  an  aot  into  stages,  search  into  the  minil  for  a  correspou- 
iltnl  ilivision  of  it  in  the  contemplation  of  its  icilliof,  and  determine  il3 
innocence  or  criminality  accordingly  ;  which,  not  denying  that  the  pro- 
])erty  acquired  iu  an  auliiorized  trHtnc  by  neutral  nwlions  from  helligc- 
rci!ls,  may  ;iccoine  incorporated  into  the  nalional  slock,  and,  under  tne 
slielter  «f  its  neutral  ch<raiter,  thus  superiniluced,  and  still  pri  served, 
be  afterwards  transported  to  every  quarter  of  the  globe,  reject  the  only 
tpoch  V, liich  can  distinctly  mark  the  incorporation,  and  point  out  riono 
oilier  iu  its  place  ;— which  proposing  to  fix  with  accuracy  and  precisif>n, 
i!ie  line  of  (lemarci.liou,  beyond  which  n<.utralr>  are  trespMssers  upon 
tiie  wide  domain  of  bclliger'  nt  r '^lits,  involve  ever>  thing  in  darkm  ss 
and  CO!. fusion  ;  there  can  be  bul  one  opinion  as  to  the  purpose  whicU 
all  this  !s  to  accomplish. 

"  lor  the  loss  and  damage  wliich  capture  bring?  along  with  it,  Brit- 
ish courts  of  prize  grant  no  adequate  indemnity,  liedress  to  any  ex- 
tent is  (iiiiicuk — to  u  competent  extent  impossible.  And  even  the  costs 
uliich  an  iniquitous  seizure  compels  a  neutral  merciiunt  to  incur,  in 
llie  dcUiiee  of  his  violated  rights,  before  their  own  tribunals,  are  scl- 
(loiii  decreed,  and  never  psid. 

•*  The  reasons  upon  w  l.li'h  Creat  Rritnin  as&umes  to  herself  a  right 
to  interdict  to  the  independent  ii:itions  of  the  earth,  a  commerci.il  iii- 
tercours"  with  the  rclonies  of  ht.'r  encrnies  (out  of  llu-  relaxation  ot 
which  pretended  ri;^ht  has  arisen  the  <lis'inction  in  liei-  courln.  bi.tween 
:ui  American  trade  from  the  colonics  to  the  I'nited  Slates,  an  i  froui 
t!ie  same  colonies  to  l'.uro])e^  will,  viv  are  coniidently  jiersuadcd,  7J/-J 
UEPEJ.LED  If  ITU  ElJiJl^YESS  .LYIJ  EFFECT  JiY  OUR 
COVEJiA.MEAT. 

•'  She  forbids  us  from  transporting  in  our  vessels,  as  in  peace  wc 
could,  the  property  oi'  hci."  oii-jinie.  ;  tufui'ses  against  us  a  riijovQUs 


f1 

If  iri 

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S2 


THE    OLIVB    DRAKeU. 


Wl 


list  of  contraband  ;  dams  np  tlie  great  cliHiinels  of  our  onliiaiy  trade; 
abridge  ,  IrainraelD  ami  obstructs  wIihi  she  peiniitsusto  prosecute ;  hml 
then  lelers  us  to  our  accuslomed  In.ffi*  in  time  of  peace  Cor  the  crite- 
rion  of  ur  commercial  rigiits,  in  order  to  justify  the  toiisnmm.'itioii  ot 
that  ruin,  with  whicli  our  lawful  commerce  is  menaced  by  her  myxim« 
and  her  conduct. 

*' I'his  principle,  therefore,  cnnui  t  be  a  sound  one.  It  wants  iinj. 
formity  and  consistency  ;  is  iiariial,  uneqiial,  and  delusive.  It  makes 
every  thing  bend  to  the  rights  oi  war  ;  while  it  aftecls  to  look  back  lo, 
and  to  recognize,  tiie  state  of  things  in  peace,  hs  the  fdundaiion  iindthe 
tnea-sure  of  tlie  rights  of  neutrals.  Professing  to  respect  the  established 
an:  habitual  trade  ot  the  nations  at  pc;ice,  it  affords  no  shadow  ot  se- 
curity for  any  part  of  it.  Professing  to  be  au  equitable  standard  tor 
tlie  ascertainment  of  neutral  rights,  if  deprives  tlum  of  all  body  anil 
substance,  and  leaves  them  oidy  a  jjlausible  and  unreal  appenrance  of 
nK.gnitude  and  importance  It  delivers  them  ovei,  in  a  Avoid,  to  the 
mercy  of  the  states  at  war,  as  objects  of  legitimate  hostility  ;  and  while 
it  seems  to  define,  does  in  fact  extinguish  them.  Stich  is  th  •  faithful 
picture  of  the  theory  and  practical  operations  of  this  doctrine. 

*'  The  pernicious  qualities  of  this  doctrine  are  enhanced  and  a.sjgra- 
Tatcd,  as  from  its  nature  might  be  expected,  by  the  fact  that  Great 
Uritain  gives  no  notice  of  the  time  who  ,  or  the  circumstances  in  width, 
she  means  lo  apply,  and  enforce  it.  Her  orders  of  the  Gtb  Novemher, 
1793,  by  which  the  seas  were  swejjt  of  our  »essels  and  effects,  weie, 
for  the  first  lime,  ;mnounced  by  the  ships  of  war  and  privateers,  by 
vhich  tiiej  were  carried  into  execuiion. 

"The  late  decisions  of  her  courts,  which  are  in  the  true  spirit  of 
this  doctrine,  and  are  cjilcuiated  to  restore  it  in  practice,  to  that  high 
tone  of  severity,  whicjs  milder  decisions  had  almost  concealed  from  the 
■world  Came  upon  us  by  surprize  ;  ;ind  the  <'aptures,  of  which  the 
Dutch  complaine(!,  in  the  seven  years  war,  were  preceded  by  no  winn- 
ing Tdus  is  this  principle  most  rapacious  and  oppressive  in  all  its  hear- 
ings Harsli  and  mysier  ous  in  itself,  it  has  always  been,  and  ever 
must  be  used  to  betray  neutral  merchants  mto  a  trade,  supposed  to  be 
lawtul,  and  tlien  to  give  them  up  to  pillage,  and  to  ruin. 

"  But  there  can  he  no  seturity  tckile  a  malignHnt  and  deceitful  jim- 
ciple  like  this  hangs  over  US-  II  is  just  what  the  htlligetenl  «  hoosei 
to  inakt  il,  iurkint;,  unsvrn,  and  unfell,  or  visible,  activ«  and  nox- 
ious. It  may  come  .ibroud  when  least  expected,  and  the  moment  c' 
confidence  may  he  the  roomeut  of  drstruclioii.  It  may  sleep  for  a 
time  ;  but  no  rnan  know^  when  tt  is  to  awakey  to  shed  its  bdleful  injluence 
upon  the  commerce  of  the  tuor/d-  It  clothes  itself,  from  iieason  to  season, 
ill  what  may  he  called  relaxatioiit ;  hut  a^uin  without  any  previous 
intimation  lo  the  deluded  citizens  uf  the  neutral  (iiowers,  these  relax- 
ations are  sud«ieiily  laid  aside,  either  in  the  whole,  or  in  pail,  and 
the  work  of  confiscation  commences.      ?<       *■:  leu  mouths  of  the  late 


war  had  elapsed  oefore  it   announced 


at  ail  ;  and,  when  it  did 


If) 


so.   It  wus  III  its  most  formidable  i>liape,  ,..nd  in  it&  fullest  power  and 
cxp'tiision 

"  Your  tnemorialists  feel  themseltes  bound  lo  slate  that,  accord- 
inar  to  iuilheiitic  infoi  niahon  lately  received,  the  uovernmcnl  of 
iJr<(il  liiitviin  does,  at  th  s  luoinent,  grant  licences  to  neutral  vessfb 
taking  m  a  proportion  qf  their  cargoes   thercy    to  proceed  on   Irndifg 


TilB   OLIVa  BRAKCU. 


il 


r.o'^ag£f  to  the  colonies  of  Spain,  from  tvhich  she  would  exclude  u.»  ;  upon 
the  cundilion,  that  the  return  cargoes  shall  ^e  carried  to  lireut  Hrifuin, 
to.iiceU  the  gains  of  her  merchants,  and  to  givt  her  a  monopoly  of  tht 
commerce  of  the  world.  Tins  freat  bclli|{ereiJl  riglil,  Ui«ii,  upon 
wliii'liBu  uiiicli  lias  been  supposed  tn  drpenri,  sinks  into  an  article  of 
tarter.  It  is  used,  nut  as  a  hostile  instrument,  uicUled  by  m  warlike 
siHic,  by  whirli  her  eiiemied  iirfi  to  be  wounded,  or  ilieir  rolniiies 
BulKlued,  but  as  the  seliish  means  of  cotninercial  aK;;ran(iizeincnt, 
10  the  impoverishment  and  ruin  of  her  friends;  as  an  engine  by  whirli 
(ileal  Briiaiii  i.s  In  be  lifted  up  tti  a  vast  height  of  piosptfrily,  uiul 
the  trade  of  neutrals  crippled,  and  crushed,  and  destroyed  Such  ads 
arc  a  mutt  iiilellitriblf  coninieiitary  upon  (he  prinripie  in  (]u»'siioii. 
Tliey  shew  that  it  is  a  hollow  and  fallacious  principle,  susceptible 
uf  the  worst  abuse,  and  incapable  of  a  just  and  houonraltie  a|)pli. 
luliuii  They  shew  ilial,  in  (he  hands  »(  a  {rreiit  mariliine  stale, 
il  i!i  unl,  in  \i»  ostensible  character  of  a  weapon  of  hostility,  (hat  it 
IS  prized  ;  but  lather  as  one  of  the  means  of  establishing  an  unbound' 
fd  monopoly  by  which  every  cnlerprize  calculated  to  promote  iiHlion* 
ul  utalth  and  po«ver,  shall  he  made  to  be^in  and  end  in  Gre-:it  Britain 
ulone.  Such  acto  may  well  be  considered  at  pionouneing  Ihc'coii- 
(leiniiution  of  the  principle  against  which  we  contend,  as  wilhdravv- 
iiii;rioin  It  the  only  pretext,  apon  which  it  is  possible  to  rest  it — 
Gi'tMt  Britain  does  not  pretend  (hat  this  principle  has  any  warrant 
ill  the  opinion  of  writers  on  public  law.  She  does  not  pretend,  and 
cannot  prelcHd  that  it  derives  any  countenance  from  the  conduct  of 
other  nations.  She  is  coiif<Bsrdly  solitary  in  (lie  use  of  (his  inven- 
tion by  which  RAPACllY  IS  SYSTEMATIZED,  and  a  si  »te  of 
neutrality  and  war  are  maiie  snbslantiiiily  the  same.  In  this  absence 
of  ail  other  authority,  her  r'jurls  have  made  an  appeal  (o  In  r  own 
early  example,  for  the  juslificiition  of  her  own  recent  practice  Your 
mt-tnurialists  join  in  (hat  appenl  as  afFordiiii;  (he  most  eonciusive  and 
authuiitative  reprobation  of  the  practice,  which  it  is  intended  to 
support  by  it 

"  The  solemn  renunciation  of  the  principle  in  question,  in  the  face  of 
the  whole  world,  by  her  highest  tribunal  in  mtifter.s  of  pnzc,  reiterated 
in  a  succession  of  decrees,  down  to  the  year  l^Sd,  and  af'erwnrdi,  is 
powerfully  coniirmed  by  the  icquK'scence  of  Gieat  Britain,  during 
the  first,  most  important,  and  ad ivc  period  of  the  late  war,  in  the 
free  ind  unlimited  prosecution,  bynfutiais,  of  the  whole  » olony 
trade  of  Franct  Slw  ilid  indeed,  at  lust,  p'ohiiiif  thai  trade,  bv  an 
insli union.  UNPRECEDENTED  IN  THE  ANNALS  OF  MA- 
RITIME DEPREDATIONS;  but  ihe  iv\  iViil  of  her  discarded  rule, 
was  characterized  with  such  circums'ance^  of  iniquity  and  violence,  "s 
ratlipr  to  heighten,  by  the  efftct  of  con'ra^t,  the  veneration  of  mankind 
I  for  the  past  justice  of  her  tribunals.  The  wo 'Id  has  not  foreolien  ihe 
imttrncliou  to  which  we  allude,  or  the  enormities  by  which  its  true 
character  was  developed  Produced  in  mystery  at  a  moment  when 
universal  confidence  in  the  integritv  of  her  (;uverninenl  had  broug;lit 
upon  the  nceau,  a  prey  of  vast  value  and  importance;  sent  abroad 
to  Ihe  different  naval  stations,  with  such  studied  secrecy  that  it 
would  elmost  seem    to    have   been   intended  to   make  an  fxperiment , 


1^ 


iV 


if 


I 


H 


^  I    I  .1— 


tft 


THE    CLIVE    nnANCtt. 


HOW  FAR  LAW  AND  HONOUR  COULD  BE  OUTHA(.F.l) 
HY  A   N\riON   PROVLKlilAL  FOR    RLSIM^C  llNCi    UOIH- 

the  hciiilil.i  by  wvmi  it  was  Ji>st  announced^  xceie  'Ite  commnndiT'i  of  hir 
commtf stoned  fiuizers,  taho  at  the  same  imiant  cairied  it  inlicJTfict,  taHi. 
fvery  ciivui.'f^nnce  nf  uiigrurnlion,  if,  of  such  an  (id,  there  ean  lie  an  n^- 
grHfiit/oM.  I.  ,11111  siii'U  cniitjiu'l  ilii're  was  biii  osic  .si'iiimstiil  li  \>as 
coiid-'iiiiiol  tiy  reason  and  juwlice  It  was  rouilciiinvit  l)y  lliat  ia\r 
wh.tli  dovm  tVoui,  and  is  foinKltd  upon  tin  in  IF  WAS  CON- 
DKMMJ)  AND  WILL  FOIJKVIIR  CONIINrii  I O  BIKUN. 
DiiVlMiD  BY  THJi  UNIVLKSAL  VOICE  or  THE  tlVlL- 
IZLD   WOULD." 


fii'' 


Tiiomas  Tenant, 
\\  illiani  V/ilson, 
Luke   I'ionian, 
Jolin  Doniicl, 
T.  Swan, 
Wm.  Lornian, 
Thos.  II(>llina;sv.ortli, 

Will.  Taylor, 
Gcor£>;e  Htiles, 
Si  en  art  I5rovvn, 
Kohert  Gilinor, 
J.  A.  Bucluuian, 


John  Collins, 
James  Calho:in, 
Alexr.  M'-Kiin, 
David  Htcwart, 
Samuel  Steret, 
AVm.  Patterson) 
Mark  i^rinj^le, 
lliii^h  Thompson, 
Joiiii  Siiorloek, 
Juliii  Strieker, 
Samuel  Taylor, 
Henry  Pay  son, 
JBenj.  Williams. 


Ballimoref  Jan.2\,  18o6- 


THE  OLIVE    URAN'ail. 


35 


tllAP.  IX. 

Xe<i'-Ifttven.     Decisive  call    for   resistance      Unlimited 

jiU'dj^e  of  support Extracts  from  Jfcnmrinl  of  Jler- 

('hanti  of  JS\wburijport,      Reliance  on  ivisdum,  firm- 
ness and  justice  of  tke  government. 

Extracts  from  the  Memorial  of  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce of  JVeu'-lIaven, 

"  Your  menioi'ialisls  cannot  brliohf,  wilhout  surprise  and  regrcl, 
a  powerful  and  respectable  nation,  benHiii}r  (he  principles  of  (he 
conMnon  law  of  natioHS,  (o  answer  pulitici)  purposes,  and  introdu- 
riii^  a  versatile  policy  into  the  solemn  arljiuhcations  of  her  cour(s. 
Weholdit  t0  be  extremely  important  that  all  nations  should  combine  m^ainst 
fuc/i  innovations  of  their  tights;  and  in  parlieulur  that  the  Umled 
States,  whose  gro;;raphical  position  gives  them  the  best  rhanre  of 
mninlaining  neutrality,  lUiring  wars  in  Europe,  should  FIRMLY 
RESIST  every  encroachment  upon  the  rights  »f  neutral  commerce. 

"  With  these  impressions  of  the  necessity  of  measures  for  defend- 
ing our  commercial  rights,  which  shall  be  Arm,  but  temperate — and 
boltl,  yet  marked  with  a  spirit  «f  conciliation,  your  memnrialists 
cordially  unite  with  their  fcilow-citizcns  of  other  commercial  towns, 
in  expressing:  their  sentiments  freely  to  (he  legislative  and  executive 
authorities  of  iheir  connlry  ;  with  assurances  of  their  dispoDil inn 
to  give  aid  and  support  to  EVERY  MEASURE  of  government  calcn- 
lated  to  accomplish  this  important  object. 

Signed  by  order, 

HENRY  DAGGET,   President 

of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

Neui-Havenf  Feb.  7,  l8o6. 

Extract  from  the  Memorial  of  the  Merchants  of  JVew- 

huryport. 

"  In  many  cases  «ur  vessels  and  cargoes  have  been  captured,  tried 
and  condemned  in  courts  of  law,  under  unusual  and  alarming  pre- 
tences, which,  if  permitted  to  continue,  threaten  the  ruin  of  our 
commercial  interests. 

"  So  far  from  obtaining  redress  of  our  .grievances  ly  the  ordinary 
modes  and  processes  nf  Inm^  we  have  in  most  c(f<!es  been  subject  to  heavy 
costs,  and  suflTered  embarrassing  and  distrrssiug  detention  of  proper- 
ly, even  where  no  pretence  could  be  found  to  authorize  the  seizure 
of  it. 

"  Having  sustained  these  losses  and  injuries  in  the  prosecution  of 
our  lawful  commerce,  nnd  in  the  exercise  of  cur  just  rights,  t(c  rely 

8 


.S 


«0 


THE  OMVK   llUANtn. 


lit 


with  ronfKlcnrc  on  fhe  nu.uhm,  Jirmncfis,  and  ju.ilicc  of  out  e'^iernmcM, 
In  ohliiin  fur  us  t/int  coni]icv\nli(tn,  and  to  gnint  to  v<i  tfiar  protccti')!! 
r/mh    A    lU'tiARU    I O  TIM.   llOiXUUK  <)1    OL  K   tOUNTRv', 

»J0  le!>s  than  the  lights  of  our  citizt^is  must  divtitle  and  leqnire. 


libenezer  S looker, 
Sieplieii  Howard, 
Eduanl  Tu|i{>iu», 
.]ohu  Feai-8uii, 

Xcw bur  1/ fort,   Dec    180:i. 


Willlivm  Barllcf,     "j 
IMosoH  Brown, 
>\  illiain  Faiis, 


As  the  fame  outrages  were  experienced  by  the  citizen'^ 
o\  New-Haven  and  Newhuryi)oi t  as  ellewhcre,  wc  find 
the  fame  l^ile  of  complaii)t — the  laiTic  cal)  for  redicfs— 
the  fame  pledge  ut  lujjpuit — iti  the  one  cal'e  explicitly 
fxprelfed,  in  the  other  unequivocally  implied. 


CHAP. 


X. 


Salem.  Sound  rMsor?//?.^.  JirUnin  carries  ov.  a  commerce 
H'illi  her  eimmy  which  she  declares  iUegat  in  a  neutral. 
Most  solemn  pledge  of  support. 

I'xlracts  from  the  ^Memorial  of  the  inhabitants  of  Hit 

town  of  Salem,  c?/s. 

*'  On  ordinary  ocrasioiis  they  have  deenifd  it  unuf^ccssary  to  app'v 
for  redress  of  grievances  lo  the  gnvernnttiil  of  their  count  cy,  rouHt)- 
in^  ill  llie  rcciilndr  tiiid  uisiiom  of  it»  counrils  ;  and  llioiit,^h  llicii' 
coiifidtnce  in  this  respect  is  niidinitiiish<'d,  yel  as  quest ioti»  of  iia' 
tioiiiil  moment  aicnow  agitated,  and  uggietisions  commiiled  on  our 
coinnirice  in  a  manner  nii|H<.'c( denied,  tliey  deem  it  their  duly  lo  ap- 
(irotirh  the  constituted  .inlhoritiee.und  express  their  laentiinenls  with 
fidelity  und  deliherafion. 

"  'Jhty  have  u'iincsned  with  unhesilniing  approbation  the  disposition  io 
neutrutil;/,  pulronized  hy  the  general  govtrnvieyit,  attunes  ichen  naltnnui 
wiongs  hare  betn  pressed  with  peculiar  af:graiatinns,  und  seemed  to  point 
to  svnanary  redress.  Finnnrss  and  inoilerniion  liave  Itrtppily  set  iiml 
all  the  advitntHges  of  su<cessful  war,  and  the  aoher  uppeai  of  lea&ou 
can ied  conviction  In  foreign  nations. 

"  Your  menioriiiliKls,  however,  have  witnessed,  with  deep  rrijrft, 
andriiep  «iixuiy,  thai  to  ".ome  of  their  trihuttitU  the.  c  ui  no  iontrn 
nppeal  for  safely.     iS'eic  interpretations  of  old  rules,  and  new  glosses  on 


TIIK  OLIVE    BRANCH. 


«T 


mificttt  (loL'trine,  liavc  Ucph  arrayed  (o  contruul  llif  circuit  of  nni- 
iral  c-iiiiiiucrce,  aiiil  reiitraii),  if  not  aiiiiiliiliitv,  its  iiioti  beiulicial 
oueraliuiis.  Tlicir  surjnise  h:is  bi'cii  llu'  i;real«'r,  liecausc  llic  nut  mil 
nlio  Ins  adopted  tlieiii,  a  uiic  from  wlntui  wo  liad  ii  rulil  (n  ox|*e<'t 
llie  must  eoiiciliatoiy  euudnct  •,  sinee  wil/i  /mr  u/.tiintUel>/  ceitlic  the 
r}iucei'ils  of  our  coininnictf,  and  J'loiii  her  We  jiurc/iusc  the  i^reutcit  portion 
uf  liei  itcpie  munufac lutes. 

"  The  Hiler«'Hls  of  (irciit  Britain  and  flic  I'liited  Slat*  ?,  scein  in 
this  ruspect  niiitoal.  VVc  coiistiiiic  tlie  proiliu  ts  of  lipr  i.idnsiry, 
anil  tfive  her  iii  return,  bisides  laiije  simuh  of  htoncy,  raw  inateri;iia 
b\  ■vliK'h  blic  iHuy  levy  new  eoiitnSutiDOH.  Siiinliu  ity  of  niaiuit  is 
iiiiil  liabits,  of  laigua'^c  and  ediTfalion,  liave  addtil  aitilicial  indnn-- 
jiHiitst'or  interei  urse,  and  unined  for  lier  anioiiu;  ojt  a  rtsjieet  not 
sli|;litly  to  be  vie.ved,  or  inconsiderately  forfoiteil.  On  ntl  cccasionx 
ll.d  United  States  h'tve  exhibited  lo'oariU  her  an  amicnhlc  tnterat^  and  a 
j'lst,  it  may  be  added,  a  frenervui  poiivy  If,  therefore,  wc  bad  favoorji 
10  ask  or  receive,  our  elainn  h.ive  been  pecnliarly  slrou);  upon  Iter  ; 
because  we  have  been  fiiiphatically  the  sinews  of  her  o|iulenec'.  IJut 
it  18  believed  that  the  United  States  ne\er  askrd  of  any  nation  niorr 
lliau  justice,  and  arc  williiiR  lo  be  bound  by  the  established  rules  of 
eoiiiinercc.  Your  memorialist!!  iberelore  express  deep  rei»rel,  he- 
cause  a  confidence  has  been  sliaKcn  wbuh  may  tiol  easily  he  reatore»l; 
and  deep  Hiixntv,  because  the  priii<ipl«R  alliiile  I  lo,  if  conceded, 
JMlsr  EVENTUALLY  FROsrUATI.  OUKTIIADE,  OK  LKAVli 
IT  AT  I  HE  ARUITRAKY  UlSCKEI'ION  OF  HELEIGE- 
JlKN'l'S  VVhetlier  peace  or  war  prevail,  the  baneful  iiiflutucc  w  ill 
ivery  where  be  fell  :  and  in  Ihc  latter  predicament  we  i>h.ill,  as  iieu- 
ir.is,  sliare  tlic  mi  sehiefs  of  it  without  llie  ehhiices  of  henctit 

''The  principle,  recently  established  by  Great  Britain,  is,  us  your 
nic-inorialistH  understand  it,  lliat  i7  is  not  competent  J'or  a  neutral  lo 
curry  on  in  ivar,  any  trade,  which  he  is  no/  accustomed  to  do  in  pence  ; 
and  thai  he  shu' I  not  be  permitted  to  effect  that  in  a  circuit ou^,  ichich  iv 
inhibited  in  a  direct  trade:  as  corollaries  from  this  principle,  she  in> 
sisu  thai  the  colonial  trade  exercised  by  neutrals,  shall  not  extend 
beyond  the  accustomed  peace  establishment  ;  and  Ihal  whenever  the 
neutral  imports  into  his  own  country  colonial  produce  with  the  in- 
tention to  tranship  it  lo  the  mother  country,  if  a  direct  intercourse 
be  iiiierdicted  in  peace,  the  circuity  of  the  route  shall  not  protect 
the  property  from  coufiscutian.  It  seems  admitted  that  huch  cir- 
cuitous route  with  such  intention  is  not  considered  as  evidence  of 
ciienty's  properly,  confiscable  within  ordinary  rules;  but  us  a  dis> 
liiicl,  Buhstantial,  condemnatory  principle,  independent  both  in  rtii- 
caey  and  application.  For  il  gields  n»l  lo  the  most  clear  pronf  of  neutral 
property,  or  innocent  though  misdiiecled  conduct.  The  unaccustomed 
trade,  or  the  importntiou  with  specitie  intentions,  are  the  tests  by 
which  every  voyage  is  to  be  tried. 

"  In  another  view,  ibe  rule  appears  to  your  memorialists  not  less 
untenable  and  unjust,  ll  is  stated  as  a  pari  of  it,  that  if  colonial 
produce  be  imported  by  any  person  with  an  intention  to  tranship  it  on 
his  own  atrouut  lo  the  mother  country,  it  is  subject  to  contiscation  ; 
but  if  imported  for  the  purpose  of  general  commerce,   and  thrown 


i 


I 

'.i ' 
it 


t  M 


i        / 


M 


•• 


THE    OLIVE  UUANCH* 


into  llu-  mnikcl  ror(;riural  (i.-tiisliipuinil,  it  in  uitliin  the  rNtrption 
To  (ll^<hll^'UlKli  l»lw«i;ii  ^Lrtcrai  timi  particular  tBlenlionj,  unti    i«  »»■(), i 
rule  tliinifft  ko  siibllt'    III  tltcir  own   nalurcN,   ami  aliiiiiHl   iiirajinlilc  of 
proof,  t\n  (III'  |Mii|»t)!*ra  of  iiitHinui   ili-cisioiis,   si-i  nm    i  rejtnvuitnl   ;«- 
tcivtd  J'or  the  jtrt.stnl  u,''^e      Tlic  iouiiil.itioii  of  tins  iiioilt'rii  doiiriiie  ig 
liiiii  III  lliis  |iiiii(  i|)i<  ,   dial  111':  iirutitil  li.iH  no  i'i)(lil  liy  an  cxlciiaion 
of  his    liadulo    uii'onl  Hn|iplM's    l<i    tin*   Otlli|;<>rciit   to    WAril  off   tlin 
blows  of  Ins  PiU'Ui),  aiii!  o|i|><>si'   for  a  loii^ci  priioii  tlio  iloniiiiion  of 
liisfoKc.     Bui  to  ihis  \niii-    iiifinoiialisis  il«'L-in   it  a  conclusive  uns- 
Wif    iliat  ih<>  |MO|)usition   proves    too   niiKti;   that,  if  linr,    it    is  u 
fotinilatioi)  for  a  fu*  nioiv  hi'o.ni  aii<l  Rvtccpinyf   pi'ilicipic  \   that  cvtry 
comnicice    with    the  lH'lli|rfi-nit    i«4    iiihibitfii  to   nenlralH-,  for    tiem 
vommartii:  asbUtii  h/Di  in  rt'sisliimp^  und  diinmishei  his  necessities.      A  dor- 
liin«   tliUK  compithi'iisive,  has  never  yet  been  avowee),  ami  it  iH  pir 
iiiinicii  iievci'  will  !»•;      Vet  such  must  he   the  logical  conclusion;  aiil 
it  slieaii  ini'tjistably  the  aiisinility  of  the  asisuoieil  piemises. 

**  riie  accnstoniid,  as  well  as  the  niiaiciistonied  trade,  is  within 
the  li  riDS,  and  must  Kland  oi- fall  to^et!i<  r  l:liltiei'  the  thirliinc  js 
luisoimd,  AND  ASSl'MKD  AS  A  \1  Kill-  PilliTEX  T  TOH  \nK\L- 
DATOKV  SI-^IZLJKI'^S,  oi-  neutials  have  no  ri;;hls  as  such,  and  must 
ciidiue  tlitJ  calamities  iiiHicted  hy  belligerents  in  a  contest  in  which 
ihey  liave  no  voire,  and  in  which  they  can  reap  only  injury. 

"Other  consider, idons  add  force  to  the  pricediiig  remarks.  It  is 
wcM  known  that  in  liiiic  of  Mur,  neutrals  cannot  c.^rry  on  even  llicii' 
nreiislunirti  trade  in  its  full  extent.  Tiiey  arc  prohibited  from  trai!- 
tia<;  in  coiitrai)aiid  (iruxN,  and  to  blockaded  ports.  Variations  lucts- 
it,n  ily  arise  in  the  relilions  of  llio  hostile  powers,  which  the  neutral 
ou»ht  to  postess  a  ri<;hl  to  turn  to  his  profit,  as  an  indemnity  for 
ihe  obstructions  of  his  old  Irarle  These  ohslrnctions  are  of  a  very 
serious  nature.  When  exeri'ised  in  the  mildest  form,  Ihey  produre 
nl»lMlI>SlVK  SKAFiCHKS  AND  DELAYS,  EXPENSIVE  El  ri- 
G.ri  iON,  AND  UI  i  EN  A  TOTAE  FAILURE  (»F  AN  OFHl^R- 
WISE  LUCRATIVE  VOYAGE.  Reason  would  therefore  nee  in  to 
U'Clarc,  tii.it  for  liazirds  of  this  nature,  the  benefils  arising;  to  neu- 
tials tVoui  war,  are  not  more  than  a  just  equivalent, 

"It  is  somewhat  singular,  that  a  belli:>ereiit  should  invite  n  trade 
7c  I  til  itself,  w/uch  it  declares  fraudulent  with  iti  ^newy  ;  and  should  lift 
ihti  arm  of  pdwer  to  cHih  i/ie  neutral,  whose  conduct  is  criminal  only  tchen 


i:  ceases 


u 


to  I) 


>e  pa 


a 


Sueh  are  the  renmrks  your  memorialists  respectfully  submit  up- 
on the  rule  considered  in  itself  On  this  examination  they  confess 
it  .-uppeais  to  ihein,  fundjiineiiially  incorrect  It  subjects  commerce 
to  Hucliialinsi  decisions  ;  overthrows  the  ordinary  rules  of  evidence  : 
and  places  an  iinirense  power  to  be  wielded  at  the  uncontronlable 
discretion  of  maajistrates  appointed  by  a  sinajle  party. 

"  It  therefore  wauls  all  the  di.scriminative  feaiures  of  a  funda- 
mental jMoposilion  of  the  law  of  nations — uniformity,  precision,  and 
^'cneral  applicability  It  would  in  their  opinion,  if  established,  cre- 
ate trreater  evils  than  it  professes  to  redress,  by  perpetuatinir  strife, 
dcstroyinp;  the  cinolninitits  of  trade,  embarraasiiisr  eomniercial  lulor- 
couise,  iind  LETTLNG  LOOSE  THE  PASSIONS  TO  PREY  ON 


■   i: 


Tiir,  oLivn  nn.wcit. 


60 


lit  III     10- 

Iriiie  IS 
Ifiuion 

uir  tlifi 
iiiion  of 
ive  aiis- 

il    IS  it 
lit  cv«iy 
'or    tier/ 
A  (lot- 
it  is  |)ir 

lOll    'y       UU'i 

8  williiii 
irli'iiic  is 
)K  IMlli. 
and  must 
in  vvliicl) 

ks.  It  is 
;»eH  tlieir 
rmm  fiail- 
[)U!»  iiccts- 
je  iipulral 
inn  it  y  foi" 

of  a  very 
pioduce 

IV.  U\\' 

OTHtR- 
iicem  to 

ij  to  iieu- 

life  n  trade 
should  iift 
only  tchen 

lubmit  up- 

L-y  C0»fiS9 

•ocninerce 
leviJt'iice  '. 
lilioulable 

a  fiuula- 
tisioii,  aiul 
|«lte<l,  ere- 
liiijr  strife, 
trial  inlcr- 

re;y  on 


TIIF.    MISKRIKS,    AND    IM.l.'NUlLR    THK    PflOPKRTY    OF 

Til  I'.  ',  N  N«  K'l-N  r  It  w.MiKJ  huliji  (  I  iMiHi.iiM  i<»  li  /.in-  .im  ly  an 
[ifiiH)ii»  •■\H  ilioKC  of  iKliiil  liosliliiKH  ;  hikI  iiiiir|i<-ii.l<  Ml  of  UN  intlti- 
« ii<«!  Ill  Miiimlatiiii;  to  Mvcnur  mil  irlniiulioii,  IT  W    I'  I.I)  III  \  NS- 

ii:k  thi;  hi-m.iiis  or  iMUcii  to  any  vicroiuous 
I  slium:k  oi"  I  HE  ocimn 

"  liiii  >oiir  iiM  mn:  lali^iis  ai«-  iiDwilliii^  In  rest  llie  i|iii'ai(inii  oii  llic 
jiiereJhig  uiohim!"*,  Iiowevor  sii|»jioi  t«'(l  by  reason  riu-y  apixMl  to 
iii;;lifr  tonsil),  rut loim  ;  and  r/r/iy  l/m!  tlia  iuli:is,or  erer  has  mude,  a 
pail  of  pulUic  taw,  or  (icqnirpd  inj  umqe  or  pr'jscnptivn,  any  attt/ionti/ 
among  nutiom. 

•*  iivi'i-y  jMjje  »p|H>ai's  to  ifive  ;i  direct  coiitiailirtion.  Tluy  idlu-rn 
to  llie  aiHMt'iu  iiitt'rpictnlidii  of  the  taw  of  iiatioiiv,  wliicii  |)rnii*Miii. 
tc'«  lint  tlie  good^  of  an  Oiuiiiyurc  lawful  |Mi/,e,  and  ilio'«)-of>i 
tVi(od  free  ;  tlial  llic  iirtilral,  iNccpl  in  ca.se  of  blorkade  and  «on- 
Uiiiand,  had  i\  rij^JiL  to  llii'  uiiiiil(rrii|)tud  pinsnit  of  Ins  loniincrce, 
wlitn  <airi*'don  willi  Iumowii  |jiu|)tr(y,  ul  ad  fvciils  in  u  direct 
trade  troin  liis  own  eouiilry. 

* '  riiey  toiict'ive  iUu\  it  is  vo'  ivilJiin   the  aulfiorify  of  any  nutiorj  to 
hpiUte  /or  the  >est\  anil  that  the  law  of  iialions   litini?  founded  on 
tltciiit'ii   t'onvfiitinn  of  the  nations   ttK<t   oli^crvc  it,   tun  lie  binding 
uiily  on  ih'tsc  nations  who  hate  tidi>|>ttd  it. 

"  il  is  (Mincedi-d  hy  the  Rritisli  (iulians  that  dnrini;  ilie  Amrri- 
c^ii  i>  v.iliilion  the  dnctriiic  w';\s  inlnely  iiilennilted,  .iiidlli':  eom- 
nior(e  of  neutrals  was  iiiirniied  anordini;  to  llw  aneienl  eodc.  M.iny 
cisis  ol  this  period  u»i:,'lit  iii*  ciic  I  from  the  adimraliy  rcKird.-., 
uliich  overtiirow-  the  rule,  and  rxiirissly  vin<lieule  the  oiiposile  If 
priitedenls  are  to  decide,  the  j-uhjnients  of  a  trihunal  eslubiished  i» 
(jreut  Britain  unrter  her  unle  appoint, neut  and  acfi»<>-  with  open  potcor.9, 
vtusl  suiely,  w.'ieri  acquiescence  crealci  the  I'lW,  comjdete  the  renunciation  q/ 
the  contested  rule 

'*  It  iH  not  the  least  singniarity  atteiidiiipf  the  condnct  of  the  prc- 
•ivit  >v;ir,  that  (Mreat  liritan  hui  licensed  ner  nthjccts  in  a  trade  which  the 
deddrei  frauiliilenl  in  others  'f  that  she  admits  thuni  unmnlenled  to  supply 
fiti  ciifuny  with  means  of  resistance,  when  she  decl-d'cs  conJiscaHon  is  the 
vvuiUy  of  neutral  succour.  Were  the  rule  over  so  just  in  itnelf,  it  eer- 
laiiily  deini.ids  lelaxation,  when  the  belligerent  yartai-cs  the  pr'ijit,  and 
cjititiics  at  the  breach  If  itp  foutidiUion  he  the  nnla'A  fnlness  of  athird- 
iii;»  assistiiice  to  a  distressed  enemy,  surely  //  ought  not  to  be  enforced 
u'ltnthaf  assistance  is  an  authorized  object  of  speculation  with  the  dijltesi- 
iiiiT  dilligerfnt. 

"  It  IS  our  pride  to  believe  th  it  the  Amerinin  merchants,  with  very 
!«■«' t<c<  ptons,  fiicHS  distin^ii'slicd  for  i;ood  f.nth  as  any  on  eaitli. 
The  iinpnt  ition  thrown  on  tlicin  is  a  nuisked  pretence  to  repel  the  odiu>n, 
f>f  vexu'ious  injuries  and  to  excuse  vioUtious  oj  luWy  which  cannot  be 
jiW'Ji'.d. 

"  Your  memorialists  wish  to  take  no  part  in  the  contents  which 
«if)>v  convulse  the  wuld,  hut  artni;;  witli  iinpaitiaiity  towauls  all 
t:..tions,  to  reap  the  fruits  of  n  jii'^t  oei'trality.  If,  however,  toiici- 
'I't.o.i  cannot  effect  the  purpose  of  justice,  and  AN  APPEAL  TO 
ARMS  be  th:  lust  and  necc^x  i-/  pioicslion  nf  ho n'^ar^  then  feci  no  «'«- 

8* 


II 


m 


^  ^'  /(.?! 


I 


\  l\l 


V 


">: 


\'\ 


■^> 


I  rf'^sr 


^  S.^ 


'  "■  ^ 


\\ll 


.1 " 


••  UlE    OI.rVK    RUAM.II. 

patlllon  la  decline  Iht  common  <hni^nr^or  shrink /lom  tht  common  contti. 
tufion. 

"  K'lyins  «ii  till"  tvivilom  tiiiil  finnnrsi  of  tlu-  gi'iirril  tfoi'ii  itnifiic 
ill  litis  li.  Iiiir,  tJity  fifl  no  f,fuf;!i'>,i  to  FIJ-.lXiK  'rilKlK  I, IVES 
»iiH  I'f{OP!"U  ri  I'»S  ifi  iuppoit  oi'  tin  mciisuri-f  ir/i:c/»  oihi^  ite  uUofJltU  l,i 
t'i'i'lici'i'  the  I'liihlic  rinMn^  and  rtilreis  the  fJublit;  a/oN^i." 

SuU'ut,  J.in.  J't,   IboO." 


V\\\[*.  XL 


'     i;> 


:  1  •  ■ 


l{rjhclio]i<%  on  the  t)fcmt}}'iii!n.     lliiifonii  call  Joy  redress. 
L'rJf<nia  iJiedga  of  siippui-t. 


I  b'.'g  the  r-oadcr  will  dcvoto  a  few  minutes  to  a  rc- 
pcriisal  of"  thcfc  impDitaut,  tlicfe  inv.ilurihle  (lociuncnts. 
No  man  witliDut  l)cariii<r  in  lumd  their  contents,  can 
loini  a  corretl  eftinuit"  ol  tlie  policy  ot  this  connirv,  or 
of  the  merits  and  demerits  of  the  two  parlies,  wliofc; 
envenomed,  and  intnriated  hoflility  is  rap'dly  fending 
tf>  perdition  tlie  nohlell  conntry,  the  happieil  people,  and 
the  hell  lorm  ol  government  in  the  world. 

And  we  mnil  not  forget  for  a  momcrit,  the  canfe  of 
all  these  impailioned  complaints,  thefe  invocations  of 
ledrefs,  thele  pleds^es  ot  fuppoit.  This  is  the  moll  im- 
portant item  in  the  affair.  It  was  (imply  the  right  to 
le  export  the  productions  of  the  colonies  of  the  enemies 
of  Great  Britain — a  right,  however  clear  and  indefeafi- 
ble,  which  was  wholly  urjelfcntial  to  the  prosperity  ot 
our  country.  We  might  have  abandoned  it  without  the 
faerifice  of  an  iota  ot  the  happinefs  ot  our  citizens,  or 
the  real  honour  of  the  nation. 

No  man  of  decency  can  deny,  after  the  perufal  of 
thefe  documents,  that  the  nicicantile  intereft  of  the 
United  States  urged — it  would  not  be  extravagant  to 
fay,  goaded — the  government  into  a  refiftance  of  the 
highhanded  and  oppretlive  pretenfions  and  outrages  ot 
Great  Britain.  Every  paragraph  eftablifhes  this  impor- 
tant fa£t.  The  expicfFion  of  the  public  fentiment  on 
tliis  fidJeSl,  was  nearly  fiinultaneyus  from  Newburypoit 
to  Baltimore. 


■>.^  ^ 


'1H£   OMVL   llrtANCfl. 


91 


That  tlicy  cmI ciliated  upon  w-u,  as  the*  dcinicr  rclort, 
;,  obvious  lioiii  the  pliMlcolo^v ,  wliuii  canm)t  he  mil- 
iind.-i  Hood.  VV^hc'ii  the  BoUi)n  m  cicliants  cxprcls  tlicir 
icliancc  tiut  *'  such  nKui/'uns  wiil  btt  pfomptly  adoNcd^ 
as  will  ti'iul  to  di/hnharrafs  ccnmerci',  ASSLRT  ()L'R 
KlGill'S,  and  /itpport  the  dip,nU\  of  the.  Unitrd  Si, ties,'' 
it  would  be  abliird  to  luppolc  thclc  incaluics  were  to  be 
limited  to  mere  iieiL^ocidtion,  the  utter  iiieiiicacv  ol  wlm.h 
had  been  lo  otten  experictited.  A  child  would  fjjuiii  at 
the  idea  of  "  supbortin^  ihf.  di^trnUy  oj  tht  United  Statn** 
\)V  negociation  alone.  That  liad  been  already  loiuid  to 
bea  very  teehle  lelource,  and  might  have  gone  on  ♦or 
ail  age,  without  "■  a/prti/ifr  any  0/  our  n^'JUs."  Their 
views  were  not  lo  limited.  No.  War,  war,  mull  in- 
dubitably have  been  in  their  contemplation,  lliould  nego- 
ciation have  an  untavourable  ilFue. 

Can  any  man  ot  common  fenle  doubt,  can  any  man  of 
chancer  iWuv,  that  the  merchants  ot  Philadelphia  cal- 
culated on  WAR,  when,  atter  having  (uggeltcd  "  that 
every  mcaiure  not  inconfiftent  with  the  lionourand  inter- 
ell  ot  the  nation,  by  w!iich  the  great  objeMs  o\'  rcdrefs 
i)nd  fecurity  may  l)e  attained  Ihould  be  firft  tried,"  tliey 
luld  '' ?/  /uch  inta/ures  jhould  prove  uycffeclual^  zvhatevcr 
my  be  the  facnjice  on  their  purt^  it  wi/l  be  met  rvuh  /ub- 
Muston." 

When  the  merchants  ot  Newburvpoi  t  "  re/y  with  con- 
fidence" on  "the  FIRMNESS  and  JUSTICE  of  the 
government,"  to  obtain  tor  them  "  compenfattun  and 
prute&ion,"  they  mull  have  been  infane,  it  they  did  ncjt 
calculate  upon  WAR  as  the  dernier  rcfoit.  Thefe  are 
the  worthy  citizens  who  have  fince  patriotically  plcrlged 
themfclves  to  refifl:  their  own  government,  "  EVEN 
UNTO  BLOOD." 

And  who  can  pretend,  that  the  merchants  of  New-Ha- 
ven, when  they  called  upon  the  government  "  firmly  to 
reftjt.  every  encroaihnient  upon  the  rights  of  neutral  na^ 
tioris"  did  not  calculate  upon  war  ?  And  did  they  not 
moil  folcmnly  pledge  themfelves,  when  they  tendeicd 
the  "  atlurances  ot  their  dirpofition  to  give  aid  and  /up- 


\v  »1 


r 


.  m 


I 


^1 
I 


92 


THE    OLIVE    liUAN'OII. 


I'i-i 


port  to  EVERY  MEASURE  calculated  to  accomjihjh 
this  important  ohjcd.'' 

And  when  the  New-York  merchants  declared  their 
"  reliance  upon  the  government  ok  tiieii  country,  that 
then-  rights  mouid  not  be  abandoned" — and  that  the'  crifis 
required  "all  the  energy,"  as  well  as  "  the  pru- 
dence  and  wifdom"  of  the  government,  can  there  !)c 
iound  a  man  who  will  pretend  that  war  was  not  caiciil.i. 
ted  on,  unlel's  other  means  miglit  be  found  to  ^ccomphfli 
the  end  in  view  ?     It  cannot  be. 

And  can  there  be  a  more  explicit  pledge  given  than  is 
to  be  found  at  tlie  clofe  of  their  memorial — "  IVe  plcJ^j: 
our  iDnled  support  in  favour  of  all  meafures  adopted  to 
vindicate  and  secure  the  jujl  lights  of  our  countrv." 

I  am  very  credibly  informed  that  there  are  fubicrlbed 
to  this  memorial,  names  ot  perfons  who  have  openly  and 
explicitly  prayed  recently  for  the  defl ruction  of  the 
armies  ot  the  United  States  invading  Canada.  This  is 
moP.  wenderfully  confident  and  patri(>tic. 

But  the  mc  rchants  ot  Salem  are  more  explicit  than 
any  of  their  mercantile  brethren  elfcwiiere.  They  leave 
no  room  for  inference  or  fuppofition.  Thev  moll  nnani- 
biguoully  declare  their  views. 


m 


"  If,  liowevor,  conriliatioii  cannot  cflTort  flie  pnrposp,  am]  AN  AP- 
PEAL  TO  AR.MSie  the  Uft  cuul  necessary  protection  of  honoui,  ihc^i 
feci  no  disposition  to  decline  the  cniHiiton  danger,  or  shrink  j'rctn  the  coiu/itun 
rontiibution." 


And  was  there  ever,  fince  the  woild  was  formed,  a 
more  folemn  pledge  given,  than  the  one  with  which  they 
clofe  their  memorial,  and  which  1  here  repeat — 

"  Relying  on  Ihe  wisdom  niu!  fiimness  of  Uie  treneia!  ^avrrnmciif, 
ifi  this  l><  half,  Ihey  feci  no  htsitation  to  pledge  their  lives  and  pro, ten  its 
in  suppoit  of  ihe  measures  ich'ich  ma',  he  udoph-d  (i>  VINDlCAl  E  l  U  F 
VU^LIC  niliHT,  AM)  KEbhLSS  THJ£  i'VBLlV  VVUOxNGS  ' 


K-'f 


mi 


^1  r 


THE   OLIVE    DRAN'CH. 


93 


5^-' 


CHAP.  XII. 

British  nepredations  brought  on  the  tapis  in  the  Senate  of 
the  United  States.  Condemnatory  Re^'dntions  passed. 
Messrs.  Pickering,  hillhonse,  Bayard  and  Tracy  in  the 
(ifjinnatlve.  Embassador  extraordinary  to  England — 
British  goods  prohibited. 

In  confcquence  of  the  prefentation  of  the  memorials 
rtbovc  referred  to,  tlie  fenate  of  the  United  States  took  the 
fubjc6l  into  their  moft  ferious  confideratioii,  and  pafFed 
the  following  refolution,  on  the  loth  February,  1806. 

"  Resolved  lliat  the  rapture  and  rondnmnatioH,  under  orders  of 
(he  British  g;ovei'timeiit,  uiid  udjudirations  of  their  ronrts  of  adtni- 
ral'y,  of  Atnt-ricau  vessels  and  their  cargoes,  on  the  pretext  of  their 
being  employed  in  a  trade  with  the  enemies  of  Gre.it  Brilain  pro- 
iiibited  in  time  of  peaee  is  an  unpiorokeH  ngiirc'sxion  upon  the  proper/;/ 
nf  the  citizens  of  the  United  States— a  violation  of  their  neutral  rights—- 
and  an  encroachment  upon  their  national  inchpenclencey* 

I  hope  the  reader  will  attentively  perufe  this  resolution. 
It  is  clear  and  explicit.  It  folomnly  protefts  againfl;  tiie 
revival  of  the  exploded  rule  of  the  war  of  1756,  as  "  an 
mcroachment  upon  the  national  independence,  and  a  viola- 
tion of  our  neutrd  rights."  Stronger  language  could  not 
well  be  ufed.  What  makes  it  peculiarly  remarkable,  is, 
that  it  was  carried  by  an  unanimous  vote  oi  the  fenate, 
28  members  prefent — but  fecondly  and  chiefly,  I  beg  it 
may  be  borne  in  eternal  remembrance,  that  among  the 
names  of  the  fenators  who  thus  voted,  arc  to  be  found 
fhofeof  Meffrs.  PICKERING,  Hillhoufc,  Bayard,  and 
Tracy. 

Another  refolution,  pafled  February  14,  (lands' in  thefe 
words : — 


vV> 


■    ^^. 

M 

Kli 

*IW^ 

'arHb  m' J 

v^ 

'111 

■QHmI 

\''ma 

ffl^Hrui 

V 

■ '  '■*  Mr 

I^^RIfl 

s 

'   ~^''0h 

^^^bI'^1 

"  RtBolved,  thai  the  president  of  the  United  Stales  he  reqnesfcd 
In  DI'LM  AND  the  restoration  of  llie  property  of  their  eitiztns  eap- 
liiied  and  condemned  on  the  pretext  of  its  deing  ewployedin  a  trade  with 

*  Journal  of  IhcsJcnatc  for  I806 — page  I26. 


r 


i 


h:^ 


9J> 


THE    OLIVE  BKANC'W, 


the  enemks  of  Cr«at  Britain^  prohibited  in  time  of  peace  ;  and  (lif  in- 
damniJiCHtion  itf  suck  Amciican  citizens  for  their  lossei  and  damages  sua- 
laiiird  by  lli«sr  capiuicH  (iiid  « oiuit'iuiiHtioiis  ;  and  to  ciiier  into  siah 
uriaiigt'iiiiiitH  Milli  the  Bntisli  ttovtrinucnl,  on  these  und  all  oilirr 
diftittiuTs  bfiwrfu  tlie  lw(»  uatinna,  (and  |)»<  lirularly  resjiecting  the 
liVlPRKSNVIKiNT  OF  AMIilKICAN  SEAMEN)  as  may  be  consist, 
cnt  witli  the  honor  und  intertsts  of  the  United  Slutcs,  and  manitest 
then  cut  ncKt  liesire  (oi  thentsielvcs  und  their  ctlizeiis  of  ihut  justice 
to  which  I  hey  arc  cuiillcd."* 

There  was  a  divlfion  upon  this  refolution.  It  was  car- 
ried  by  twentv  aifitiiiative  votes  to  fix  negative.  Mcilrs. 
PICKERING,  Hillhourc,  Bayard,  and  Tracy  were  in 
the  affirmative,  as  on  the  former  relohition. 


'< ;'    *  ( 


)!l 


•■I'fl^T 


To  obtain  redrefs  from  Great  Britain,  four  modes  pre- 
fented  theinfeives — ncgociation — non-intercourfe — em- 
bargo— and  war. 

The  firft  in  order  required  to  be  fir  ft  effayed.  Ac- 
cordingly  the  adminilhation  entered  upon  negociation  : 
and,  to  attach  more  folemnity  to  it,  Mr.  William 
Pinckney  was  appointed  minifter  extraordinary,  and 
united  to  Mr.  Monroe,  then  refident  at  the  court  of  St. 
James's. 

To  give  the  negociation  a  greater  likelihood  of  fucccfs, 
an  aft  was  paifed,*  making  a  ftrong  appeal  to  the  inter- 
eft  of  Great  Britain.  By  this  act,  the  importation  into 
the  United  States  was  prohibited,  of  a  variety  of  her 
moft  important  manufafclures,  viz. 

"  All  articles,  of  v/hich  leather  is  the  material  of  chief 
value. 

"  All  articles  of  which  filk  is  the  material  of  chief 
value. 

"  All  articles  of  which  hemp  or  flax  is  the  material  oi 
chief  value. 

*  Idem,  page  131- 
•  Laws  of  the  United  Slaic«,  Vol.  6,  page  80. 


'^-'^■^     >**- 


THE    OLIVE    BRANCH. 


m 


«'  All  articles  of  which  tin  or  brafs  is  the  material  of 
chief  value,  tin  in  Iheets  excepted. 

'*  Woollen  cloths   v/lioi<      uvoice  prices  fliall  exceed 
five  ihilljngs  Iteilmg  per  iqi  .^eyard. 

"  Woollen  hofiery  of  ail  kinds. 

'•  Window  gldls  and  all  the  manufaftures  ©f  glafs. 

"  Silver  and  plated  wares. 

"  Paper  of  every  defcription. 

"  Nails  and  fpikes. 

"  Mats,  and  clothing  ready  made. 

*'  Millinery  of  all  kinds. 

"  Playing  cards. 

"  Beer,  ale,  and  porter  ;  and  pictures  and  prints." 

This  dti  was  pa{ied  on  the  i8thdayof  Aj^ril,  1806, 
in  compliance  with  the  reinonUrances  of  the  merchants, 
as  .1  mcvns  of  inducing  England  to  abandon  her  nnjuft 
pivtontions.  And  with  a  laudable  widi  to  afford  her  time 
\o  weigh  its  confequences,  and  to  prevent  a  rupture,  its 
opeiation  was  not  to  connnence  till  the  i^th  ot  the  fol- 
lowing November,  a  period  o[  fcven  months.  Thus  re- 
lutlaiit  was  tiie  government  to  come  to  ext.emities,  not- 
'.vithftanding  the  grievous  provocations  that  had  been 
offered.  It  is  impofFible  to  conceive  a  more  lenient  mode 
of  proceeding,  or  one  refleHing  more  credit  on  the  for- 
beaiance  ot  an  injured  and  intuited  nation. 

Still  further  to  evince  the  wifh  of  our  rulers  to  pre- 
feive  peace,  the  operation  of  this  ati  was  fufpended  in 
December  1806,  till  the  firft  of  July  1807* — and  more- 
over, the  prefident  was  authorized,  *'  if  in  his  jidg- 
ment  the  public  good  fhould  require  it,  to  fufpcnd  it 
ftill  farther  till  the  fecond  Monday  of  December  in  the 
fame  )  ear." 

Here  let  us  paufe  a  moment.  The  United  States  had 
fuffeied  depredations  on  their  commerce  to  an  enormous 
amount  by  the  revival  of  a  pretended  rule  of  the  law  of 
nations,  which  had  been  formallv  abandoned,  and  ot 
wh'cli  revival  no  previous  notice  had  been  given.     And 

*  Idem,  page  230. 


'^Il 


■O'f 


!*")   ) 


Il 


96 


TIIE   OLIVE   BRANCU. 


inftc.'iJ  of  having  rccouifc  to  reprlHils  or  to  a  declaratiou 
ot  war,  cither  ot  which  would  have  been  pertcdly  juft, 
they  adopted  the  mild  medfure  ot  reftraining  the  'oni- 
nierce  ot  the  iigirreffor,  in  order  to  make  it  his  inteieft 
to  do  them  juilice.  Never  was  greater  torbearance 
fliewn — never  was  iorbearuDce  fo  ill  requited. 


(  ■ 


■W., 


CHAP.  XIII. 

Blockade  of  the  Coast  from  the  Elbe  to  Brest.    Berlin 

Decree. 

Inftead  of  rcdrelfing  the  grievances  of  which  our 
merchants  fo  loudly,  and  fo  eloquently,  and  fo  juftly 
complained,  the  Bntifh  government,  on  the  i6th  ot 
May,  1806,  under  the  adminiftration  of  the  celebrated 
Charles  James  Fox,  iffued  a  proclamation,  blockading 
the  coaft  of  Germany,  Holland,  and  Fianre,  from  the 
Elbe  to  Breft,  extending  to  about  700  miles.  Tlierc 
never  was  an  adequate  iorce  ftationed  to  effett  a  legal 
blockade  of  a  thiid  part  of  the  coaft  mcluded  within  the 
proclamation. 

The  French  government,  exafperated  at  this  offenfive 
and  unjuftifiable  meafure,  retaliated  on  Great  Britain  by 
the  notorious  Berhn  decree,  wheieby  the  whole  of  the 
Britifli  dominions  were  declared  to  be  in  a  ftate  of  block- 
ade, without  a  fingle  French  veffel  of  war  daring  to  fliov 
itfelf  on  the  feas. 

Imperial  decree,  declaring  the  British  Isles  in  a  state 

of  Blockade. 

Imperial  Camp,  Berlin,  Nov.  21,  1606. 

Ntipoleon,  Emperor  of  tlir  French,  and  king  of  Italy,  considering: 
I.  That  Eugiunii  does  nut  admit  the  right  of  nations  as  univcraally 

acknowledged  by  all  civilized  people  ; 

S.  That  she  declares  as  an  enemy  every  individual  belonging  to  an 

enemy^s  '■tate;  and  in  rontiequrnce  makes  pritoners  of  war,  not  only 

of  the  crews  of  ormetf  vessels,  but  those  also  of  merchant  vessels,  anil 

even  the  supercargoes  of  the  same  ; 


U 


THE    OLIVE  BRANCH. 


0.7 


V  Tliat  ilie  cxlemls  or  applies  to  TTicrclnmt  vessels,  to  articles  of 
ttminiercu.  mul  to  tlie  properly  of  individiiui-,  the  light  of  coiupu'St, 
wliich  c:i  I  only   be  applied   or  extended    toviat  belongs  to  an  enemy 

•  'I'lia*  she  ext**nd3  to  ports  not  lorliriel,  to  Iinrbonrs  and  niniuhs  of 
livLis,  th'  rij/it  of  bloc/cade,  wliich,  :ic( oi ding  to  rciif,on  iixd  the  usage 
yf  civilizcil  nations,  is  applicable  only  to  slrotij^  f)r  fonified  ports  ; 

5.  That  she  declares  places  blockaded  before  which  she  has  not  a  sin- 
rrlt-  vessel  of  wur,  aithonjjii  a  place  nv^ht  not  to  be  considered  blockaded 
f,[\\  wlien  it  is  so  invested  as  thtt  no  a])proach  to  it  ca  be  inade  w  itiiont 
iminiu«-nt  hazard  ;  that  she  dcclaris  even  places  blockiided  which  her 
unitci!  toiccs  would  be  incapable  of  doing,  such  as  entire  coasts,  und  ;i 
uhole  empire ; 

t")  'I'iiai  this  ane([U'illed  abuse  of  ilic  right  ot  blockade  has  n"  otiier 
oliJL'Ct  than  to  i  teirupt  tJK*  coinmiiiuoations  of  difl't  rent  nations,  and  to 
fxtend  the  connnerce  and  industry  of  Bngland  upon  the  ruin  of  those 
ot  the  coMtinent  ; 

7.  That  this  being  th  evident  design  of  S'ngla  «1,  whoever  deals  on 
the  contnient  in  English  merchandize  favours  tliat  design,  and  becomes 
sin  accimjplice  ; 

8.  rii:it  this  conduct  in  I'ngland  (worthy  only  of  the  first  ages  ofbar- 
Laiiiin)  has  benefitted  her  to  ».hc  delnmeiit  of  of.hor  n.'«lions  ; 

9.  I'hat  it  being  right  to  oppose  to  ai.  eneniy  the  same  a  ins  she  makes 
•■HO  of;  to  combat  as  she  does  ;  when  all  ideas  of  justice,  und  every  li- 
k'lal  SLMitiment  (the  result  o    civi  iz;Uion  among  men)  are  disregaided ; 

V\e  have  resolvco  to  enforce  wgaiiist  l.,ngla«d  the  usages  which  she 
has  consecrati  (I  in  her  maritime  code. 

The  p'csent  decree  shall  be  considered  as  the  fundamental  law  of  tbe 
eBi;iiif  until  Eugla  d  has  acknowledged  that  the  riglits  of  ivuv  are  the 
Viin-;  on  land  as  at  sea;  that  it  catinot  be  extended  to  any  private  pro- 
\)  riy  whati  ver  nor  to  prison  who  are  not  military,  anil  until  the  right 
ot  blncknlnig  be  restrained  to  fortified  places  actually  invested  by  com- 
lioti  lit  lorces. 

Article  1.  The  British  islands  are  in  a  state  of  blockade 

'2  Ml  c  mmerce  and  correspondence  withtliem  is  prohibited.  Con- 
sequently, all  b  Iters  or  packets  written  in  I'^nglaiittl,  or  to  •<n  Eiigluh- 
maii,  •written  in  the  Eng  LkIi  la)igu  je,  shall  not  be  dispatciied  from  the 
j)ost-i  fiices,  and  shall  lu-  .s«  izt-d 

3  h.very  individual,  a  subject  of  Great  Britain,  of  whateve  ■  rank  or 
cotuiition,  who  is  found  in  countri  s  occupied  by  our  troops  or  ihose  of 
owr  alius   s  all  be  made  prisoner  of  war. 

4  Every  ware-house,  all  merchani'ir.e  or  pr0j)erty  whatever  belong- 
ing; to  a    Eny;lishnian,  are  decl«r' (1  good  piize 

5  One  half  of  the  proceeis  oi  int'iciiaiidize  declared  to  be  good 
piize,  and  forfeited  as  in  the  prectdini?;  aMicU  s,  shall  go  to  indemnify 
mffciiants  who  have  sufi'ured  lusst  s  by  tiie  English  cruisers. 

6.  No  vessel  cominj.^  directly  frota  England  or  her  colonies,  or  haviiig 
bten  there  siuc^i  the  publicatio:.  of  this  decree,  shall  be  admitted  into 
any  port. 

7.  Rvcry  vessel  that,  by  a  faUe  declaration,  contravenes  the  foregoing 
'lisjiosiiion,  shall  be  seized,  and  the  sinp  r.nd  cargo  confiscated  as  Eng- 
lish property. 

8.  [This  article  s  te.s,  that  the  coun  ils  of  prizes  at  Paris  and  at  Mi- 
I  Ian  sliall  have  recogiiizance  of  what  may  arise  in  the  empire  and  in 
,  Italy  under  the  present  article  ] 


''I 


m 


9h 


XHE    OLIVE    BRAXOU. 


9  Communications  of  this  riecrcc  shall  be  made  to  the  kings  of  Spain 
Naples,  Jlollahd,  Ktruria,  ami  to  our  other  allies,  whose  subjects  as  well 
as  ours,  are  victims  of  the  injuries  and  barbarity  oi  the  Knyliah  niari* 
lime  code. 

10.   CJur  luihistcrs  of  foreign  relations,  &c.  are  charged  with  the  exc 
culiou  of  the  present  decree.  ^ 

•*•  KAF0L£0!T. 


By  the  emperor. 


H.    B.  MAHET, 

Secretary  of  Utafe. 


Extravagant  as  this  decree  appears,  it  is  capable  oi. 
fome  deience  ;  and  that  not  void  ot  plaufibility.  It  was 
promulgated  to  retaliate  a  blockade  oi  a  great  extent  of 
coaft,  of  which,  as  I  have  ftated,  two  thirds  were  not 
invefted  by  any  force  whatever.  And  it  cannot  be  deni- 
ed that  it  the  blockade  of  a  fingle  port  three  miles  in 
extent,  much  more  a  long  line  ot  coaft,  be  legal,  with- 
out a  force  to  fupport  it,  the  blockade  of  the  Britifh  do- 
minions, or  even  of  a  whole  continent  without  a  force,  is 
likewif'i  legal.  And  I  am  perfuaded  that  Capt.  Boyle's 
recent  blockade  of  the  Britifli  dominions,  is  quite  as 
legal  and  dcfenfible,  as  the  exi  fling  blockade  of  fuch 
ports  of  the  United  States  as  have  no  naval  force  flation- 
ed  before  them. 

So  far  as  refpefted  American  veffels,  the  Berlin  decree 
was  not  enforced  for  twelve  months.  This  important 
fa^  is  not  afTcrted  lightly.  It  Hands  on  refpeftable  au- 
thoritv^  to  which  no  objeftion  will  lie.  This  authority 
is  Alexander  Baring,  Efqr.  member  of  the  Britifh  houfe 
of  commons. 


"  JVo  condemnatio7i  of  an  American  vessel  had  ever  taken  place  wu 
der  it ;  and  so  liUle  did  the  Trench  privateers  interfere  with  the  trade 
vi  America  with  this  coMi.trs ,  that  the  insurance  on  it  has  been  very 
ifitte  higher  than  in  time  of  profound  peace,  -while  that  on  the  American 


THE    OLIVE    BRANCH. 


09 


trade  tvilh  the  continent  of  Europe  has  at  the  same  time  been  (Jonbhd 
and  even  trebled  by  the  conduct  of  our  cruisers.  * 


Bcfides   the  above  authority  I  annex  a  ftlll  ftronger 
proof  ot  my  pofition  : — 

Paris   J\  Of.  12,1807. 
Sir, 

It  was  not  till  yesterday  tliat  1  received  from  Mr.  Pkipwilh  a  copy  of 
the  dfciee  of  tlie  cnuiicil  of  prizes,  in  the  case  of  tlie  liorizoii  This 
is  the  first  unfriendly  decision  of  that  body  under  the  decree  of  the  21  sf 
o/vVov.  180G  In  this  c;ise  and  on  liie  petition  of  the  defendant,  the 
court  has  recomn)unded  the  restonition  oi  tlie  ivhnle  cargo  I  did  not 
liowev'T  think  proper  to  join  in  (isking  as  a  favour,  what  I  helieved  my- 
stlt  eniitl.d  to  sis  a  right.  I  subjoin  a  copy  of  my  note  to  the  minisar 
of  foreign  aft'airs. 

And   am  sir, 

Your  most  obedient 
Mumble  servant. 


CSignedJ 


JOHN  ARMSTRONG. 


MH.   MADISOIf,  8cc. 


CHAP.  XIV. 


^>r 


Orders  in   Council  of  JS^ovember  11,  1807.     ^Milan 
\  Decree. 


&  'I 


By  the  orders  of  Nov.  ii,  1807,  all  neutral  vefTels, 
bound  to  France,  or  her  dependencies,  or  to  any  port 
from  which  Bntifh  velfels  were  debarred — and  further, 
all  vefTels  furnilhed  with  French  confujar  certificates  of 
the  origin  of  the  cargoes,  were  declared  liable  to  feiz- 
ure  and  condemnation.  This  meafure,  fo  deftrui^ive 
to  the  rights  and  interefts  ot  America,  was  predicated 
upon  the  acquiefcence  in  the  Berlin  decree  ot  Novem- 
ber, 1806   twelve  months  anterior,  although  that  decree, 

•  "  Enquiry  into  the  causes  and  con  eqnenccs  of  the  orders  in  coun- 
cil; and  an  examination  of  the  conduct  of  Great  Britain  towards  the 
neutral  cmimerce  of  America.  Hy  Alexan'te;'  llanng  Rst)  M.  P." 
Lon<h)n.  I»u  jli  hed,  February,  1808.  Republished  ia  Phil»delphiii,  by 
Bfwiford  ana  laskeep.  "^ 


1 


II 


jk^. 


.«''r^.*.>«--.i»«^/*^wa^.»*    ..*  Jf  .J<^*>-*>^^J 


ioo 


THE    OMVE    nUAKCU. 


as  I  have  fliitcd,  liad  not  been  put  into  operatiwn  ap-alnft 
our  <:()ininerce,  and  of  courfe  we  had  no  light  to  icinon- 
fhatc  again fl  it.  There  did  not,  therefore,  cxill  tli.i' 
iJcqiiiefcence  wiiich  could  have  warranted  this  high-hand- 
ed outrage. 

To  enable  the  reader  to  judge  completely  on  the  fi.l. 
je6>.  ot  thefe  celebrated  orders,  1  annex  a  copy  of  then: 
at  lull  leniith. 


li\h 


M  the  Court  of  the  f(nem\t  Pidace,  the  iiih  of  .Xovem. 
her  J  1807.  in-csent,  i.'ie  JCitif^-'s  most  excelkilt  *Muj('s!ii 
In  Council. 


><1 


i:''  !!'in 


V/Iiorcas  t-rrlain  onlers,  cffaljli'-liinp;  an  unprecpdentcd  leysiem  (4' 
\vjiit;iie  ngaiiist  this  kiiigdom,  tiiul  iiincd  especiallv  iit  ilie  destruction  ci" 
its  coiiiiiicrce  and  I'lsomccs,  were  some  tiint*  since  is.sucd  by  I  lie  ^ovti;.. 
incut  of  France,  by  wbich  "  the  IJiitisli  islands  utie  declared  to  be  in 
a  .slate  of  blockade,"  tliereby  8ubjectin}»  to  capture  nnd  condemnation 
;di  vessels  \vii!»  tlieir  cargoes,  which  should  contiuuc  to  trade  with  his 
juajtsty's  dominions  : 

Anil  wlieieas  by  tlip  sv.me  onkrs,  *•  all  trading;  in  Knglish  mercbnn- 
«li'/e  ib  proliiliiied,  and  every  artiuje  of  nierehai  dize  belonging  to  lln;.'- 
Iniid,  or  eon:i!ig  from  her  colonics,  or  of  her  manul>cture,  is  dechutil 
lawfid  pi'ize." 

And  wlnrcas  the  nations  in  allinnee  with  Fiance,  and  un<Icr  her  con. 
troul,  were  required  to  give,  and  have  given,  and  do  give,  effect  to  sucli 
crdciS  : 

And  whereas  his  majesty's  order  of  the  7(h  of  Janiiiiry  last,  has  not 
answered  llie  des.rcd  purjmse,  either  ot  eonnpelling  the  enemy  to  recall 
tiiose  onlers,  or  of  induciii';;  neutral  nations  to  interpose,  with  effect  to 
ubti'in  llieir  revocation;  but,  on  the  contrary,  the  same  have  been  re- 
cently ent'oreed  witli  increased  rigour  : 

And  wltereas  his  miijcsty,  under  these  circumst;inces,  finds  himself 
ii'.iinpelied  to  take  furiher  nteasures  for  asserting  and  vindicating  his 
y\A  I'iglils,  and  for  supporting  that  maritime  power  whi«h  the  exertions 
anil  valour  of  his  people  have,  under  the  blessing  of  providence,  enableJ 
him  to  establish  and  maintain  ;  and  the  maintenance  of  which  is  not 
more  essential  to  the  safety  and  prosperity  of  his  majesiy's  dominions, 
than  it  is  to  the  protection  of  such  states  hs  still  retain  their  indepen- 
dence, and  to  the  geiural  intereouise  and  happiness  of  mankind. 

His  maje.sly  is  tlierefon;  pie  sed  by  anil  with  the  adv  e  of  his  privy 
council,  to  order,  and  it  is  hereby  ordered,  that  al  fie  parts  ami filaeco 
of  France  mid  her  allies,  or  of  iviy  other  cuuntry  ut  iu(ir  ivith  /us  im- 
Jt-stt/,  ami  (ill  oth  r  porta  or  place'!  in  Enrofic  "fom  -whicli,  ulthuiish 
not  at  wtr-vit/t  his  nirjestij,  the  British  Jiag  is  e.cciuhd  and  all  pons 
ur  places  in  the  cohmies  bclongintf  to  hin  nuijestfs  cnernv's  shall  from 
henceforth,  he  subject  to  the  'same  restrictions  m  poin  of  trade  ond 
vaviifaticn,  with  llie  ^  xeept  mis  herein  fte:  mentioned,  as  if  thu  same 
■were  actaalfi'  hhckuded  hii  his  m.ij.  stf  s  navul  forci^s,  in  the  most  strict 
find  r/pv;r«»?i*  manner.     And  it  is  liereby  farther  ordered  aad  declare*), 


'r :  * 


1UC  OLIVE   DRANl'II. 


lUL 


that  all  UnUe  ii.  a.  tides  wliich  are  of  the  pro<loce  oimsnulaeture  of  the 
^iiid  countrifs  or  colomes,  s.iall  b«  theined  nnd  consiilereil  to  ho  uuIhw- 
lul;  niul  that  every  vessel  iradiiig  from  or  to  the  smi]  coii'  tri«;»  or  lO- 
liiiiifs,  togellier  with  all  ^oods  und  merchandize  on  hoard,  and  all  articles 
of  the  produce  or  maitui'actiire  oi"  the  suid  countries  or  colonies,  shall  be 
capliired  and  condemned  hs  prize  to  the  CHplors. 

Uutidlhouh  his  majisly  would  he  fully  justified,  by  the  rircum- 
stnnces  ioid  consitleialions  above  recite  ,  in  estahlisliinji;  such  system  of 
rthlnctions  witli  respect  to  all  the  countries  and  colonies  nf  his  enen>ie»» 
witlriut  exception  or  (lUalification  ;  yet  his  mnjesly,  being  nevertheless 
(It'siroiis  not  to  subject  neutrals  to  nny  greater  inconveiiiencc  t-an  i-^  ab« 
loiutely  inseparable  from  the  carrying  into  efttcl  his  majesty's  ju*.!  dc- 
liMiiii'iaiion  to  counieivict  the  designs  of  Ins  enemies,  and  lo  retort  upon 
his  enemies  themselves,  the  con8e»iueuce«  of  their  own  violence  and  in« 
jusliie  ;  and  being  yet  wilimg  to  hope  that  it  may  he  possibly  (consi  t« 
eiitlv  witli  that  object)  still  to  allow  in  neutrals  the  opportunity  of  fur- 
nsliing  ihemselves  with  colonial  produce  for  their  own  consumption  <n(l 
siil)|»l>  ,  and  even  to  leave  nfjeii,  fur  the  pre  cut,  such  tradf.  itxtU  hia 
mtjextt/^a  enemies  us  shall  be  carried  an  directly  with  the  ports  of  his 
majesty's  dominions,  or  of  his  allies,  in  the  manner  hercinafiur  men- 
tioned. 

Ms  miijesty  is  therefore  pleased  fnrther  to  order,  and  it  is  hereby  or- 
dered, ihitt  notiiing  herein  contained  sball  exleml  to  subject  to  capture 
(iicctndemnation  any  vessel,  or  the  cargo  of  jiny  vessel,  belonijing  to  any 
eiiU'itry  not  decliired  by  this  order  to  be  suhjtcted  to  the  restrictions  in- 
cident to  a  state  of  blockade,  which  shall  have  c!eare«l  out  with  sucli 
oargo  from  some  port  or  place  of  the  country  to  wl'icli  s!ie  belongs, 
either  in  Kurope  or  America,  or  from  ome  free  port  in  his  majesty's 
colonics,  under  circumst-ances  in  which  smh  trade  from  such  free  port  is 
periiiiued.  direct  to  some  port  or  pLice  m  t'<e  colonies  of  ftis  majesty'a 
enemies,  or  from  those  colonies  direct  to  the  country  to  ivldch  such  res- 
sdbelin^s,  or  to  sonje  free  port  in  his  majesty's  colonies,  in  such  casesj 
ami  with  such  articles,  as  it  mny  be  lawful  to  import  into  such  free  port; 
nor  to  any  vessel  or  carqo  of  any  vessel,  belongtnq^  to  any  country  "ot 
ut  iviir  with  his  majesty  -whieh  shall  have  cleared  out  from  some  fiorC 
bv  place  in  this  hinq-dom,  or  from  Gibraltar  or  Alalta,  under  such  re- 
^^luiitiuns  as  his  majesty  may  think  fit  to  prescribe,  or  from  any  port  be- 
loii;,'ing  to  his  majesty's  allies,  and  shall  be  proceeding  direct  to  the 
port  specified  in  her  clearance ;  nor  to  any  vessel,  or  the  cargo  of  nny 
\ehsel,  belonging  to  any  country  not  at  war  with  his  majes'.y,  wliich  shall 
be  commgfrom  i«ny  port  or  place  in  Europe,  which  is  declared  by  this 
order  to  be  subject  to  the  restrictions  incident  to  a  stale  of  blockade, 
destined  to  some  port  or  place  in  Europe  beonging  to  his  i.uijcsty,  and 
Aviiieh  shall  be  o»  her  vtiyage  direct  iher.to;  but  these  excepti  ns  are 
tiot  to  h.;  umlerstuoil  as  excepting  from  capture  or  confiscation  anj  vessel 
or  ijoods  which  shall  be  li  <ble  thereto  in  respect  of  having  entered  or 
deputed  from  any  port  or  place  actually  blockadeo  by  his  majesty's 
Sfiuadrnis  or  ships  of  war.  or  for  being  enera  es'  property,  or  for  any 
other  cause  than  the  contravention  of  this  ])re8ent  order. 

And  the  commanders  of  his  majesty's  ships  of  war  and  privateers, 
and  other  vessels  acting  under  his  majesty's  commission,  shall  be.  and 
are  hereby  instructed,  to  warn  every  vessel  which  shall  have  commenc- 
ed her  voyage  piior  to  any  notice  of  this  order,  and  shall  be  deslineil  to 
any  popi  of  Krunce,  or  of  her  allies,  or  of  any  other  country  at  war 
"Villi  his  majesi-    or  to  Rtiy  port  or  place  from  which  the  British  flag,  a« 

9* 


I 


,i,'^ 


I 


I 


i 


ki 


M   u 


{]tt»i,    ■»»*■"- 


„*^:^ 


109 


LHE   OLIVl':   BHANtiH. 


Mi 


nrot'csuiil,  i»  oxclii'h'i^,  or  lo  any  co!nnv  lK'lon;,'iu;^  (u  liis  injtjesty'a  cnc- 
niirs,  lUiil  witiili  sli.ill  not  Iihm'  tlfiirt'd  out  as  i-.  Iiiitin  Ih;'oh'  «ll')wr(l, 
to  <li -coiitiriiic  her  vomik*-'.  '""'  •''  I'lnoiml  to  ^oimu  purl  or  pl.ic,  in  fliii 
kiiiv(<loi<i,  i)r  lo  rjilnalt.ir  or  Mtill!«.  \imI  nny  vcisil  wliicli,  at'tt;r  limin;; 
liccii  sii  uni'iird,  (.r  niter  n  ihhsoi.iIiIc  linn;  slwtll  li.ivc  'it-eii  nll'i  n.o  lo,' 
l!io  uiiiv;il  ol  Miforniitlifdi  of  lliis  Ms  Ki'.iji-siv'ii  nulcr  !«•  any  pnit  ov 
I'lu.o  I'm  .  wliiuli  sliij  s!iiL  ,  nv  w!iiili.  nt'u  r  lijivin;'  notic*'  of  tins  niili.i', 
Rf.nll  be  I'liMi.it  ill  llie  prdstciiiion  of  iiny  v,.m»^i-  cniitriry  to  l.c  ir. 
»ti'i(  lions  I'out.iiiuej  in  il»is  otdci-  sliull  be  capiurcil,  and,  Io^j.-iIkm'  with 
litr  I  irfijo,  coiitlcmin.'d  ;is  l\svr"il   pii/M-  In  tin-  r:iplois. 

.And  will  I  i?,is  coundii's  umI  iimngul  in  tlii'  war  liiivc  ii<w|iiifs(!C(1  in  tlu,' 
oi'li-rs  o!  I'riincf,  proliiiiirri;;  nil  ii  juU-  in  (my  ui-titlcs  tin.-  proiInc;  or 
iiiiiiinl"jn;inri;  of  lli^  mitjfsty'a  doMiinionf.  :  ikiid  ihi/  nieiciiiiiil;i  ol'l'iou- 
('.ounfrii  s  luivt-  givon  counti/iiiinct'  and  dl'fcl  to  thosi;  piiiiiiljitiinis,  b\  ac- 
«tj>  inj;  from  persons  Ht)  lin:,'  tlicniSL-lvrs  rnmnn  rciid  a|;(rils  o/  lln  .  nc* 
niv.  rfsidciit  .it  ni-iiirti  ports,  cei-t  liii  doetiincnts  Icrnii'd   "  crili/icule!) 


"J  " 


n    in. 


lu'inu;  iiM'tirioiil' !■,  oliiaincd  at    tin;  ports  r>t'  vliipnunt,     fchiv- 


ill-'-  tint  thi  articles  of  tfi"  cm  !{■)  inc  not  <♦/'  the  proftiuc  or  iih.int 


III' a  itf  his  m^/'cU'i's  tliirii/riioiiv,  ur  to  tlmt  I'Jfi  ct 


iJmi^. 


And  wliiiLas  iliis  i  xpi  i.icnt  Inis  lit'cn  diirtled  liy  rriince.  and  snh. 
initti'd  to  liy  sncl.  nuTiliuiits,  as  pari  of  liit  mw  sysleni  oJ  warl;iro  di- 
n.'ctcd  a!.^:i  nst  liu-  trade  of  tliis  kiiiti;<loin,  and  iis  llic  most  ifl'iiUial  in. 
lilruincnl  of  ai'coinpli^iiini;  ill ;  sainu;  and  it  is  lliurefore  esscnliidiy  iic« 
ccssu'v  to  rtsist  it. 

Ills  111  ji  sty  is  lliertfon.'  i)kaiji.il,  by  and  uiili  the  a-  vice  of  Iils  privy 
eouiu!!,  t((  order,  and  it  is  lit icbv  oniirid,  that  if  any  vessel,  i.ftei  rta- 
sonahlc  lime  sliall  have  been  afVorded  for  rtccivitis?  notice  of  this  his 
njiijrsly's  order,  at  llie  lioit  or  plaee  fioiii  wliiih  such  vessel  sIimII  Lave 
cleared  out,  uliull  be  fouiiil  cnrt ying  anu  sttch  crrtijiiatn  or  dficuinni' 
us  afuresiiid  or  any  ihiumcHt  rrfevring  to  or  authenttcativg  the  ■  iniw, 
Mieh  vess<  I  shall  bu  adjin  j;<d  lawful  prize  10  the  captors,  togitbtr  wilij 
llie  goods  laden  therein.  be!oii^in|j;  lo  the  piTbon  or  persjiis  by  whom,  or 
Oil  whose  behalf,  any  such  docnmenl  was  pin  on  board. 

And  theiixht  hon  (liable  ihe  lords  coniniissioners  of  his  niaje.sty'a 
Ircasiii'y,  his  m  .jesty's  principal  secretaries  of  slate,  the  lords  cominis- 
sioi.ers  ol  the  ailmiralty,  and  the  judg'sol  llie  iiigli  court  of  admiralty, 
and  conrls  of  vice  admiralty,  are  lo  take  llie  iifceasary  measures  here- 


iu,  as  to  them  shall  respeciively  appertain. 


W.  FAWKENER. 


The  preceding  orders  were  affigned  by  Napoleon  as  the 
reaion  ior,  and  jjftification  oi,  the  Milan  decree,  of 
which  1  fubniit  a  copy  ;  although  it  breaks  in  fomewlidt 
on  the  plan  ot  this  part  of  my  work.  But  I  p'leter  group- 
ing thcfe  three  documents  together,  tor  the  eafe  and  con- 
venience ot  the  redder. 


THE   OLIVE   BnANCII. 

IT 


103 


Parh,  December  '2Q, 
IMPERIAL  UECIiMC. 


Utjoiti'lc)'  to  hh  lirHannic  mnjesfi/'s  Order  in  rminril,  af 
till'  Htk  JS'ni'citib'v^  iMor.  vit  our  itoijid  Palace  at 
Milan,  Ueci-mher  17,  18or. 

Na;)olooii,  em  ernvof  tlic-  Ficiich,  Wvt%  of  Italr,  and  protci  lor  of  tli; 
Hli     ish  coiilVdei  alioii. 

O'lscrvini!;  lli*  niftsurcH  mlojiticl  hv  tho  iSrilish  ij;nYoniiiu"iit,  n  llio; 
llili  NitvtMiihrr  la^t  hy  wirrli  MSbrls  bcl')iigiii|j;  to  h>  iiti-al,  lilciullj,  <ir 
e»eii  powirs  llic  ullits  ot  KuiiImikI,  iiic  tiiuile  I  nljl»;,  nol  <)ii!y  (i  be 
searcli  <l  i)>  Kiiglisli  cniizois,  Ijtit  to  !)'j  coitiiJiilsoril)'  (litiiiiud  in  i'li^- 
luhil,  Hixl  1(1  liHVt:  a  tMX  laul  on  them  of  sn  mucli  per  utiil.  on  tiie  citigo, 
to  lib'  i<j;!ihlt:(l  by  llir  Hriiisli  lu};i-l  .tine. 

Oljst  iviii;.':  iliitt  hy  tliese  ;a'ts,  llic  Hrltisli  t;ovenimeiit  (h-7Ui*ionnfize.f 
9lii|)»  01  cri.'i'y  nation  ill  Kiiropc  ;  tliat  it  is  not  toiiiptltiit  ibi' ;iiiy  Kov- 
eru'.iieiit  li>  etraet  IVoiii  its  own  inil'  peiii!»'H(c  f.;iil  ri.i;lil3  ;  :tll  tlio 
sovticigiis  o*'  Kmopi  liMvi'ifi;  in  linst  tli«  woxei  i^ij;iitie:j  uiul  ji.tiopea- 
ileiicc  of  tlie  fli  i?  ;  tliut  it  liy  uii  nnpaidniiublc  wcakiirss  aiul  wbicb  in 
the  t-ycs  of  pnslei  ity  wi^nid  lie  an  iiuliliiible  stnin,  it"  bueh  a  tvii.n  y  was 
alkmt-ii  to  1)1'  est '''lijlu'd  into  tirinciples,  and  (.ousLfralei!  Iiy  iisitgc,  the 
Eri^'lisli  Wdidd  iivail  tiicmselvis  of  it  to  assi  rt  it  as  u  r  i;lit,  as  the}  have 
availed  themselves  of  the  tolerance  of  £;o\t'rninents  tf)  eslahlisjli  tl:e  iiifa- 
inous  prineiplc,  th.tt  thi;  flaj;  of  a  nation  docs  not  cover  |;nod.s,  and  to 
}(ivi'  to  their  rit,ht  of  blot;ka>!e  an  aihilary  cvtLiiiion,  and  wlncli  in» 
liiiircs  on  the  sovereignty  ot  every  slate  ;  we  have  decreed  and  do  do- 
ciL'f  as  follows 

Art.  1  Kvery  ship,  to  whatever  nation  it  may  belong,  that  shall  liive 
submitted  to  be  seartiieil  by  an  ljn;.;iiBh  .^iiip,  or  to  a  vnyag'e  to  Knijimd, 
cr  sliall  have  paid  any  lax  whatsoever  to  the  l.ntjlish  s"^'^'''""'^-'"'' '* 
t'lercby,  ad  for  that  alone,  declar  d  to  be  denatiunalizctl  to  have  for- 
feited tlie  protection  of  its  king,  a  <l  to  havt-  hi  come  Ki^jiish  property. 

"  Art.  II.  Whether  the  ships  t!»us  denalionulized  by  the  ;irl)iti  ary 
me^sur'S  of  the  Pinglisli  government,  enter  into  onr  jjorts,  or  those  of 
our  allies,  or  whether  they  fall  into  tlie  liands  of  oi;r  ships  of  war,  or  of 
our  privateers,  they  are  declared  to  be  good  and  lawtul  prize 

Art.  HI  The  British  islands  are  declared  t'  be  in  a  stale  of  block- 
ade, both  by  land  and  St  a  Kvery  ship  uf  whatever  nation,  or  whatso- 
ever the  nature  of  its  cargo  may  be  that  sails  fr  mthe  ports  of  Eng- 
land, or  those  of  the  English  col  nies,  and  of  the  coiinlru  s  occ  pied 
by  linglish  troops,  and  proceeding  to  England,  or  to  the  Enjilish  coio- 
Dies,  or  to  cou  itries  occupied  by  English  troops,  is  good  and  lawful 
prize,  as  contrary  to  the  present  decree,  and  may  ,ie  captured  by  our 
ships  of  war,  or  our  privateers,  and  adjudged  to  the  captor. 

.\rt.  IV.  These  measures,  wiiicli  are  resorted  to  only  in  just  i\talia- 
tioii  oi  the  barbarous  system  idopt'-d  by  England,  which  ssimilaies  its 
legislation  to  tbatci"  Mgiers,  sh.ill  c  ase  to  have  any  elfect  wiiu  .  espeet 
to  All  aatious  who  shall  have  the  iitiaaess  to  compel  the  Uuglish  govern- 


'       n 


t? 


f 


10-fr 


tllE  OLIVI:    DRANeH. 


^i    \ 


ment  lo  rcapect  their  fluf;.  Tlx  y  ihall  rontinue  to  he  riKoronilv  in 
f»ir<;i;  Its  long  as  llinl  govern mcnl  <loi«  not  return  to  the  pri'  i-iplt  i;|  t|,e 
law  of  n;>tioi.s  wl  i<  li  \i  ^ulllU'H  tli<  nlitliont  oi°  ri\iliai<l  btiilct  in  m  itate 
ul'  wur.  'I  Ito  prtivikiunn  ot  ilic  priHt  nt  drcrrv  tliHll  be  Hbroitalfd  mihI 
null,  in  (uvl,  as  louii  ns  I*  e  Rncliali  uhid*  ugain  b)  tlic  |iriiici|ilca  o|  tlii 
taw  u\      MlioiiK,  wliioii  nrt' iiNf)  tl.t*  pi  itiriplt-!)  >>t  jii^iivi-  anil  ImiKHii-. 

Alloiir  niiiiisii'is  urc  <'h.<ri;ctl  wtlli  tin;   txerution    nl'  the  pieHint  <]«■ 
«rce,  wliicli  ^\\M   iv  iii«('t-tr(l  in  tht;  luillciin  of  thu  luws 

Bv  onler  ol  tlie  iniperor,  N>  IM)1.K()\, 

(HignedJ  II.   n.   MAUKI, 

bccreiiiij  of  Sutc. 

On  tlic  s/jth  of  November,  1807,  an  additional  order 
in  coincii  wa^  IHiud,  and  on  the  a.^tli  ot  March,  iHoH, 
',\\\  Ac.i  ot  parliaTiicnt  paflc-d,  the  ol  jcti  ot  both  ot  which 
was  to  permit  a  trade  between  neutial  nations  (the  only 
ncutta]  nations  tlien  were  the  Urnttd  States  and  Swedeni 
and  France  and  her  dependencies,  on  the  condition  that 
the  xirj'els  enpap^ed  in  it  fliould  enter  /o me  H'UiJh  port, 
PAY  A  TRANSIT  DtJTY,  n>nl  take  out  a  liceme! 
And  the  Bndjh  j^iovernment  ajfeded  to  regard  thu  ar- 
rangement at  a  favour  conferred  on  neutrals  !  Tliis  was 
fairly  capping  tlic  clnnax. 

It  may  not  be  unfatistaf^ory  to  the  reader,  to  ftate  the 
duties  thus  laid  on  the  exports  ot  the  United  States  bv  a 
foreign  nation.  Well  might  Mr.  Baring  declare---"  It 
is  immaterial,  whether  it  be  a  tax  on  {lamps,  or  on 
cotton.  Ttiis  qucflion  has  been  the  fubje6l  ot  a  long  and 
bloody  war." 


•  1 


lUHl 


Goods  allowed  to  he  bonded. 


\-'i 


Kavlllrt        -        . 
H.Mik  (Peruvian)     .        .        - 
C'K-liiiieRl  ... 

Cocii:t  nuts     --<•••/.  t 


Toftee 

tiitiger  .        .         - 

(juin  Arab.  am\  Senegal 

HtilTtp 

Hides  (raw) 

Jalftp         ... 

]ndi(;o  ... 

Iron  (in  bars)    -        .    - 

Pinunto 

Piteh 


10s  per  cwt.  or 

6s    — 

73      —       - 


Dollars 


1     8s    —        -        .      - 
7»  — 

.     lOs  — 

158    __        .  .  . 

5s  per  fiide 
Cd  per  lb. 
28  —  ... 

/.  3         —  per  cwt. 
•id  pfi   lb. 
4s  4(1  per  91    1-2  gal. 


2  2? 

1  35 

1  57 

4  44 

0  CO 

1  57 

2  92 

3  33 
.  07 

II 

45 

13  J2 

4 


•^iWMtiaUbMiaikiiUMi 


Ui««ihn«« 


"trnt* 


i*»ri|iw 


i^oronil^  in 
,tM()l«  111  M.e 
i'«  III  H  tlale 
r(i^!«tftl  xiii| 
:i|ilcn  c)t  thi 
miKiiir. 
prettiiit  lie- 

'Ol.UON. 

'  uf  Sutc. 

jual  Older 

ch,   180H, 

ot  whitli 

(the  only 

,  Swedctii 

Hfion  that 

Uijh  po)f, 

a  liceine! 

•ft  this  or- 

This  was 

to  ftatc  the 

states  bv  a 

arc—''  It 

)s,    or  on 

a  long  and 


THE   OI.IVU    UUANCH. 


109 


Is 

'2t 


fiiitknIlvcP         ... 
Kl.ii'i'aili       -        •         -         . 

J{iim  Hml  Spirits  single 

l)>(  iHL'f-i»ioi»f  -  Is    III 

SiiRir  (liiDWh  or  MuscovBilo)     lOs 

l)^  (tt|.  I.  01  clajctl)      - 
•I'i.llow         .         -         .         - 
Tar         -        .        .         - 
'I'oliacco           .         .         .         - 
T  n»«iiiiie  (common) 
U.iie        .        •         -        -      /  0 
\ViioiI(n»ahf)g:iny)  -  1 
Colldn             ..... 
'J-ii„bcr        -         -         -          /•   I  ' 
Hii'l',  Ike.  C  in   under  8 
8 V2 


per  lb. 

81I    \HV  gul. 

plT   CWf, 
per    cwt. 


>         V2  and  upwards    / 


7s 

4s  4(1  per  J I    t-l  gal. 

Ill   l-'-'pir  IIj. 
3s  Gd  per  t  wi 

per  'J5'J  gals, 
per  ton 
t)d  p.r  I!). 
7»         pir  60  c.  ffct 
5s        per  piece 
10s     —         .         .         . 
1   7s  — 


Dotlorn 

25 

. 

4.1 

t 

p 

4r. 

• 

. 

1.1 

. 

.•m 

0 

t>0 

• 

* 

«  « 

• 

a 

i1 

• 

1 

.■S7 

9 

ya 

m 

. 

» 

m 

78 

QC, 

til 

• 

-i 

U 

• 

17 

* 

5 

9H 

. 

1 

11 

. 

'2 

22 

• 

S 

ys 

Hoods  not  ttllunrd  to  be  hondetU  «"''  upon  which  the  home- 
consuinptiun  duties  mui>t  li' [.aid  on  importutlun  : 


Anchors  40  per  cent,  on  the  v.niiic, 

Aiinatlo         .         -         .  /.  -   8s  4d     per  cwt. 


Doihtrs 


Arjjiil        ....             5h 

— 

Aslie^          ....          Ids 

— 

U;ik  lii.rk          ....     'Js 

fid 

\\vvm\            ....           A^ 

—         .         - 

HlltUT     -         -         -         -     /.  I 

_         .         . 

t/,ilic   nnd  Cordage     .        -        18^ 

—     . 

Wlieiit        -         -         -         -         lOs 

per  qr     - 

Wliia;  meal  and  Fl.ur        -        .^s 

per  eut. 

Sti.ik-fisli        ...        23  M 

periyo     - 

Otiur  Fish          ...          4h 

pel  CWf 

Slr.lOil             ...         10    lOs 

p-  r  25^1  (if.ds. 

I'Oiil             ....                  178 

t)d   pi  r  cut 

I'hix-scfcd         ....     Is 

G.l   per  56  lb 

10  65 

1    11 

'J  'ia 

.55 

;ll» 

4  44 

4  00 

0     0  > 

i    11 

5G 

90 

40  fi'J 

.    (12 

•      33 

>olIar9 


2  2? 
1  35 

1  57 
4  44 
C  1^ 
1  57 
'i  92 

3  33 
.     C7 

II 

45 

13  32 

4 

06 


*' Prize  poods  prohibited — poods  not  enuineritcd,  but  whith  maybe 
used  in  this  c  ■unlry — on  tiie /;/'t'S^   /  diiti  .<:  40  per  cent- 

•*  A  letter  tVor.i  Itdthh.jiic,  Huglwn  ■iiul  Duncan,  ol  Liverpool,  d.tted 
in  the  be'^inniii'!;  of  April,    1808     hiis  iliis  par-'gi mtli  : 

'  'I'hesi'  diitien  to  ntt.icit  to  tiic  eari;ii.s  o^  alt  Vfircla  b'ltindfrom  ihe 
Vivtcd  Statet  to  those  ports  on  the  covtinent,  tvheh  ave  u'idf>-  tlia  in- 
fiufucK  of  Fvuvcef  diid  un-iv  in  th  u  con/itrij,  in  cornplmnce  wiih  the 
tvdcrs in  council  of  the  ilth  ^.Vovcmlier  " 

Jl  Si/nopsis  of  a  part  of  ihe  EJJ'e.cts  of  these  Duties. 

"  A  carRO  of  .  otton  of  1000  hales,  of  JOO  lbs    each,  w  liich  is  about 

llie  couuiioii    \vtif;ht,  pajiii.u   IM    sl«ilin},',     p  r   ll»    in    Kiij^v.k!,   \\..iil{l 
imoniit  to  the  precise  sum  of  50,UiJ0  dolhtrs.     I'he  buiae  caiijo  of  e«t. 


.   il 


'I 


f, 


M 


Its 


THE    ftLIVE  BRANCH. 


I    I, 


fe! 


ton  at  M  1-8  cents,  the  average  price  for  fine  Louisians  cotton,  wouii 
noi  <'f)9t  tii  Ntnv  Orleans  +3,50'i  dollars.  Tiius  the  exporter  would  |^,ve 
to  I'nv  G, 500  dollars  in  LotiUon,  «s  a  duty  for  liberty  to  proceej  lo  the 
CO  iiii<  i.t  more  liau  liu-  original  cost — to  tliis  miglii  be  add> d  ihi-  vnn. 
ouk  otiter  cliai)fcs  of  tonnage,  kc.  aniouuling  to  ubout  SnUO  dotLu's 
nioi'e. 

«*  n  lurgo  of  tobacco  may  be  said  to  consist  of  400  liwgsh  -ads— for 
the  H;ike  of  I'ound  numbers,  w<.  ^v'|ll  suppose  each  hogshead  onl)  tu 
w^ijih  1000  lbs  and  the  account  stands  thus — 
AOO.OOO  lus.  Tobacco,  at  1  1-^d  sterling  per  pound,  is 


/ '2,500  steilins,  or 


ToniiHgL  at  l'2s.  per  ton  on  400  tons,  is  ^240  sterling, 

or 
Light  money  and  various  other  charges  and  attendant 

expenses,  would  amount  to 


Uollars  11,100  00 


1,0C5  OG 
800  00 


Amount  of  trihiitt  on  a  cargo  l'2,%.)  60 

**  Of  ilie  80,000  liugslu -Us  we  ^.-nerally  exported,  about  I'i.OOit  v,  re 

consunii  d  i.i  the  Untish  islaids — the  rest  went    to  the  lonliniMii — put 

theiij,  as  before   ut  1000  lb.  each,  and  wliat  is  tiic  amount  of  tribute  m 

this  single  uriii  le  ? 

68,0(»0  iiogshrads  tobacco,  wci  hing  each  1000  I's.  i? 
68,U00  000  1:^5.  at  1   I -'id  blerlmg  per  pound  is  /4'25,Ono 
or  dollars  1,998,000,00 

170  ships'  tonnage,  &c.  at  2000  dollars  each  S4',>.000(JO 

Amount  of  annual  tribute     n  tobacco  2,3.'8,OO000 

•'  A  shiii  would  carry  -.bo^it  fro.,i  30C0  to  3500  barrels    ot  flour  ;  f.uy 
for  the  sake  ot  calcuhitinn,    COOO  i-wt, 

6,0  Ocwt.  at  Ds.  storlinc;  prr  i.wt.  amounts  to  /  1500  or  dollars  6,600  00 
ToniiHge  and  charges,  as  above  l.fif/n  60 

Amount  of  trihi.ti'  -  8,5.^5  60 

"  A  ship  loud  •>{   fish  would  cost  about  3500  or  4000  dollars  i;icln(liiig 
the  dutt^^s  ami  ch  rt'ts.* 


*   For  these  calculat.ons  I 
Vol  d,  page  79, 


ara  indebted  to  Niles's  Weekly  Register, 


1  .i 


f 


mU 


THE   OLIVE    BRAXeir. 


lor 


Weekly  Register, 


CHAP.  XV. 

Tlip.  orders  in  conricil  of  A''ovembpr  11,  ISOT,  defended  hj 
JImericans.  Founded  on  the  untemtble  p  ea  of  American 
acijuiescence  in  the  tlerlin  decree.  E^iqniri/  into  their 
causes  and  consequences  by  Ji.  Baring,  Esq.  JI.  P. 

Pernicious  as  were  the  orders  in  council  to  tlic  moll 
vital  interefts  of  the  United  States — degradiii.r  as  was  the 
condition  ot  paying  a  tranfit  duty  in  Englilh  ports — and 
iinjift  and  unfounded  as  was  the  allegation  on  which 
thele  orders  were  predicated,  there  weie  defenders  of 
them  in  this  country — American  born — and  amonjr  tiie 
number,  men  in  higii  and  elevated  (tations,  poireding  a 
great  degree  of  public  confidence  and  political  influence. 
It  is  a  moft  fingular  fa£l,  that  the  caufe  of  England  has 
been  more  ably  fupported  in  our  papers,  and  in  our  de- 
bates, and  in  our  political  refolutions,  than  in  London 
itfelf.  There  is  no  man  of  charaJler  or  ftanding  in  fo- 
ciety  in  that  city,  or  in  the  Britifh  parliament,  that  has 
attempted  te  deny  tl)e  magnitude  ot  our  wrongs.  The 
miniftry  and  their  friends  have  palliated  their  proceed- 
ings by  the  miferable  plea  of  nece^ity — and  ot  retalia- 
tion— a  plea  that  B  u-barolTa,  or  Koultkati,  or  Bonaparte 
could  with  equal  jultice  advance.  But  fuch  rcfpetlahle 
men  as  the  Rofcoes,  the  Whitbreads,  the  Barings,  have 
bellowed  on  the  outrageous  mcafures  of  their  govern- 
ment, the  moft  unqualified  reprobation.  I  have  it  not  in 
my  power  at  prefent  to  refer  to  the  debates  in  parliament. 
But  I  perteftly  well  recolleft,  and  fuch  of  mv  readers  as 
have  accefs  to  them  will  fee  at  once,  that  the  reftitude  of 
the  conduft  of  our  government,  and  its  mild  endeavours 
to  procure  redrefs,  have  received  the  moft  unequivocal 
eulogiums  from  fome  of  the  moft  illuftrious  chara£lers  in 
Great  Britain. 

The  refpectability  of  Mr.  Baring  is  a  matter  of  pub- 
lic notoriety  throujrhout  the  commercial  world.  There 
IS  no  man  m  England  more  attached  to  the  honor  and  the 


103 


TKE    OLIVE  BKANC'W. 


i 


intcrefts  of  his  country.  His  teftimony  has  been,  as  I 
liavc  laid,  unltormlv  borne  in  our  tavoui',  and  againft  the 
enormous  injullice  ot  the  orders  in  council — and  as  it 
cannot  fail  to  have  a  weitrlu  proportioned  to  his  talents, 
intci^rity,  and  chara61er,  I  Ihall  very  freely  extrafl  from 
fuch  an  u;i')bjc6lionable  lonrce. 

The  orders  in  council  of  Nov.  ii,  1807,  were,  as  we 
have  iecn,  predicated  upon  our  acquielcence  in  the  Ber- 
lin decree.  Mr.  Barinjv  havlriir  flated  the  fa6i,*  tliiit 
this  decree  had  not  been  put  into  operatioH  againft 
our  cornnjerce,  we  had  had  no  right  to  rernonilrate  again  ft 
it,  proceeds, 

"  Unless,  tliercfore,  his  mnjcstv's  njinlstPis  have  some  information  of 
whic)i  the  pnblic  is  not  possi.-sseti,  and  wliit-h  coiitratiicts  tlic  very  el' ar 
evidence  (lie  public  do  possess,  we  must  conclude  tiiat  tiiC  nsserliun  in 
the  orders  in  council,  that  America  \in<\  been  siuIitV  ol  that  ncqnienccnce 
in  tUi'  fleerces  of  l'')'aiice,  uhich  v,as  to  draw  down,  and  h  is  dra«n 
clown  upon  her;  our  menaced  retaliation,  is  totally  void  of  foundation"! 

The  fallacy  of  the  allegation  of  an  acquiefcencc  in  the 
Berlin  decree  liavinjr  been  proved,  Mr.  Banner  thus,  ac- 
counts for  the  Milan  decrrc,  which  was  the  offspring  of 
the  orders  in  council  of  Nov.  11,  1807. 

•'  If  vrhat  has  hic.n  statrd,  be  crrect,  thr.t  our  orders  in  council  are 
not  just'fi' (I,  y  any  prevlin;,  provoesttion,  tliiy  nmst  b'-  evidently  nclsof 
or  ;j;iiiMl  au;a;rt"'sion  ;  hiuI  France  has  ret:  iiat  -d  muc  in  the  suine  w.nn- 
nor  and  wilb  flieSMuie  rigiit.  its  we  oii;-selvcs  should  Ijavi.  done,  had  llic 
Berlin  decree  been  rijjiillj  executed  "t 

The  foiiowinq;  niafterlv  analyfis  of  t>ie  orders  in  coun- 
cil is  taken  from  Mr.  Baring's  pamphlet. 

"Jill  trade  directh/fmm  ^9meHca  to  rvci'i;  pari  nnil  country  ut  'a>av 
•with  Great  Britain' <]'•  f'om  -Thith  the  liyitisli  jius;  is  errnulel.  is  to- 
tally  prohibited  Inthis  qfcicViil J}r')liibii.on  evfbp.irt  tj  Eii^'op'',~i!jh 
the  exception  at  present  of  S^werfev,  is  lUf  '^jUeii  :  iind  no  distinction 
•whotever  is  made  batveen  the  domestic  pi ndiice  vj' .  tmerica.  and  tiuit 
of  the  colonieSf  re-exported  from  thence  !  !  ! 

*•  The  trade  from  America  to  tiie  colnj.Ks  of  all  nHtif^ns,  reninins  un- 
altrred  by  the  present  order.  Ami-'rica  m.  y  export  the  produce  of  Lev 
o-ion  country,  but  that  of  no  other,  to  6w(iie/j. 

•  Sec  page  98.    f  Enquiry,  \)!»go  70.    t  Ibid. 


\i/ 


THE    OLIVE   IIUAXCH. 


iOhi 


'«' With  the  above  exception,  all  lU'ticlps,  whether  of  ilomcstic  or  oo- 
loiiiil  (irnilnce  exi)ortc'(l  br  Aincricn  to  Eiii(>|je.  iintfit  ' r:  l.inilnd  in  this 
c'tuntrij  rKiigliind]  from  whence  it  is  inU'ii'c<l  to  p  rmit  tlii-'ir  txpoi'tu- 
lioi)   u'u(k'r  such  regulutions  as  sliall  be  hereafter  dctf  rmine>I 

«<  Fiv  thfS'^  rcpi'ilulinns  it  is  umlerstond  tli-it  duties  are  to  b«  imfioxed 
on  r.li  ai'lides  no  re-rxportcd.  Mat  it  is  iiitimatcfl  tbfit  sui  cxc.ption 
wll  111-  in;»ile  in  favour  of  sncli  as  are  the  produce  of  the  United  tjlntes, 
cation  excepted. 

«'  \ny  vessel,  the  cargo  vvhereoF  shall  be  nccnmpanied  with  certifi- 
cates of  Frtiicb  consuls  abrofid,  of  its  i>ii!;iii,  sliall,  together  with  its 
car-'o  be  liable  to  seizure  and  condemnation."* 


1  * 


It  is  here  proper  to  make  a  wletiin  paufc.  The  fuhjeft 
dfiferves  the  dcepelt,  the  moft  Icr  ior.s  rcllc^^lion.  Let  us 
cxamitie  this  fkelch,  let  us  confidcr  the  defpotic,  the  law- 
iefs  claims  it  alTerts — the  proftrate,  the  bafe,  the  defpica- 
blc  ftate  it  places  the  commerce  and  the  rights  ot  a  fov- 
eieicn,  an  independent,  and  unofiending  nation---a  nation 
wiiofe  trade  was  ot  incalcidable  impoitttnce  to  the  power 
thus  lordinf^  it  over  us-— and  when  this  is  all  (airly  and 
diilv  vvcighed,  let  us  corre611y  appreciate  the  condu^l;  of 
fo  many  Americans,  who  have  adcrtcd  with  a  zeal  wor- 
thy of  a  (rood  canfe,  that  England  "  has  done  us  no  ef- 
fentiil  injury  !"  Fhe  annals  oi  the  world  can  produce 
nothing  more  indetenrible---nothing  more  aftonilhing — 

The  end  propofed  by  tlie  Britifli  government  in  this 
llupcndous  projcfct  ot  ufurpation,  is  thus  ahly  fketched. 


in  coun- 


"The  \m  ricans  ar"  to  brinp;  to  this  country  nil  (he  produce  of  their 
own,  and  all  that  of  our  enemies'  eolonuvs,  niiiii,  tiny  t  xiiort  t(.  Ku- 
rope.  Wi>  are  liere  to  form  :i  grand  enipoi-iuiu  of  the  cost  y  pioduce  ot" 
Asia  and  America,  which  is  to  be  •li'spenseil  to  the  ditft  rent  countri.-s  of 
Europe,  under  sufh  rea;ulilions  tis  m  e  niiv  liii.k  jjropt  r  .  nd,  I  sup- 
pose, accordin<j;  lo  i!<cir  ^oo  I  b-hiivjour.  Taxun  we  to  he  '-(u-ied  f'lum 
tk  cowiJimem  on  the  coJithunt  :  ami  (hi  y  ;.ve  to  be  contriv.  .1  with 
such  judieiois  skill  as  to  stcme  our  own  West  India  .  lauters  a  prefer- 
ence 10  those  of  Cub  I  and  Vl.irtiniipip.'-J- 

"The  Aineneau  mercli-iot,  with  the  best  intention<f  of  Iradinij  le- 
gally, canuot  always  know  what  Ihisrmntry  permits  ;  for  we  admit 
tliat  u[)holdin<i;  !i  t^eutTal  pnuciple  whicL  we  never  enforce,  wc  may 


/ 


I 


*  Idcifl,  page  12. 


10 


t  Idem,  paj;c  iG. 


i 


m 


110 


THE  OLIVE  bhancu. 


siml  do  vary  our  pn  mission  to  neutrals  under  it  as  wc  please.  Sup. 
poiiiis;  hitii  in  tins  it'spfct  not  liable  to  error,  liei*  expostd  lo  iinjnst 
dtrisi.mK  ill  our  vii  e  adiuitiiity  <«Mn  t»— a  dunntr  of  no  coininon  nia„'. 
niHnJc,  if  uf!  arc*  to  luluve  llie  iissci  tion  <if  lord  Hawkfslmry  m  ihe 
l».nik.eof  commons,  tlif  iir)li»  of  April,  I80|,  thai  of  ais  appeals  from 
those  courts,  onlf/  ;)j  nf  the  (.ondeninalions  were  cofjimied.^'* 


>'i' 


hi 


Wliat  a  hideous  pi£lure  of  the  rapacity  and  piratical 
proceedings  ot"  the  Britifh  privateers  is  licre  exhibited  : 
It  is  not  unf.iir  to  {"upposc  that  of  the  number  of  veflels 
captured  and  brought  in  for  adjudication,  one  fourth 
Averc  cleared  in  the  Well  Indies.  Admitting  this  calcu- 
lation,  the  whole  number  ot  captures  embraced  in  the 
ilatement  ot  Lord  Hawkcsburv,  was  probably  420,  of 
M'hich  about  100  were  cleared  in  the  Weft  Indies — 283 
iKijuftlv  condemned  there,  and  afterwards  cleared  in 
Great  Britain — and  only  35  really  and  bona  fide  lawful 
prize — fo  that  it  appears  that  of  every  twelve  veflels 
brought  in  for  trial,  eleven  were  unjuttly  captured  ! 


•;(  ' 


"  If  we  liad  maiiifaiiipd  and  dpft'niled  lli  is  dortrinc  boldly  and  fairly 
:is;ait.st  all  nations,  good  arguments  in  favour  of  it  could  not  lie 
watitin;;  But  wht'ii  we  have  nniformly  yielded  il,  and  indeed  for- 
borne lo  claim  il,  can  it  be  consistent  either  with  viagnanimity  or  good 
policy,  to  bring  it  forward  now,  because  the  only  remaining  neutral  has  a 
defenceless  comineree  1  If  such  cowardly  injustice  is  to  be  one  of  our  re- 
xoiircis  in  these  tryin\i  times,  wlitn  elevation  oj  sentiment  and  of  national 
character  are  more  than  ever  tcanted,  the  means  and  strength  of  this  pouer- 
fill  empire  are  indeed  strangely  'nisunderstood''''^ 

•' 'llus  decision  [in  tlie  case  of  the  Essex,  Ormc]  altlionp;h  ill" 
distinrtion  was  not  made  tncaleli  the  common  eye,  wi«s  well  known 
in  embrace  the  tv hole  foreign  trade  rf  America,  excepting  that  in  her 
own  produce  It  circulated  rapidly  iimoni;  our  cruizers  and  priva- 
teers ;  and  in  the  course  af  a  fortnight  the  seas  were  cleared  of  every  Ame- 
rican ship  they  could  find,  which  now  crnwdtd  our  ports  for  trial :  ami 
our  West  ludia  merchants  were  gratified  by  neutral  insurance  atnl 
ficijriils  being  at  least  doubled  by  this  ingenious  discovery  "t 

"  This  decision  laid  the  fouiidulion  of  all  the  complaints  of  Ame- 
rica of  our  vexatious  measures  against  her  trade,  as  it  introduced  a 
(otally  new  line  of  conduct  towards  it:  and  </ia/  chur.ge  produced  the 
non-importation  act  at  which  we  n/fict  so  much  indignation.'''§ 

"  Nor  was  the  injury  to  the  Americans  confined  lo  the  application 

"Idem,  |inge  43.t    Itkm,  page  dr.     i  Idem,  pngc  50.     fSIdcm,  pngc  M. 


THE  OLIVE    BUAXCH. 


ill 


(if  tlicic  new  and  vcxiititius  principles-,  for  our  privi.ti'rrs,  iijipif- 
heiiiliii;  liilic  (luii)!t>i  of  being  made  atiskveiable  tor  tliiii  ciku-,  \«rie 
not  >iii«|>us<'^  I"  i"'*!^*'  nice  «tiwliiielioiiFi ;  Uui  detained  (inn  sent  in  ever;/ 
rtsiel  t/iey  met  Kith,  under  the  most  Jiiiolous  jneteiues  \  in  ic/tuh  tlu-., 
KBienlso  encouraged  by  tlie  expectation  of  actual  nur.  Of  Uh  ixicnl  lo 
>v|ii('li  lltib  \»us  citiried,  Kuint-  ultii  may  tie  turna-d,  u  hen  it  is  stiilid, 
(Imt  curgitcs,  wliidly  ot  Ainciuiin  pioduce,  iiiid  of  llic  piiiiUire  ut' 
iicuiial  cotiiiti'ies  Hading  with  Aincitcii,  vieie  cit(iti;uii,  utid  cvtu 
brmnjbl  <o  trial."* 

"Tbt'0*nei8  of  privateers  arc  in  llic  daily  pnu-tice  of  l)i  iiiuiii;;  in 
vnltiublc  carjiOes,  and  oft'eriii|;  imiuidiulely  lo  lekitst-  (In  \\\  foi  ui.i-  «ii 
two  liutidred  gnineas  Iliey  Hoiuttitiii't^  rt'ijiiiie  a  iiku  li  l<ii  j^tr  sniii. 
Till'  London  niercliunt  is  either  obliged  lo  ':i('quies(c  in  this  iiiKjiii. 
loiiH  lobbery,  <ir  let  bis  «oii(  spondent  siiflVr  the  nioie  ixpt  usivc 
vcxiilions  wbiih  it  is  unfoi  tuii:itci\  in  the  po>\«.r  ot'  tliibe  |ii<!|iU;(o 
iiifliel  "t 

"The  measures  resorted  to  !»y  Aniericu,  under  tin  be  ciicumstiiiu  fs 
(if  provocation,  were  certainly  of  the  tnildcst  tpeiiis  of  hotlililij,  ami 
fuch  as  ciideniti/  shewed  a  deitire  of  peace  A  law  wai  p.tsseil  piohihit- 
\n%  the  iniporliitioii  of  ceitain  articles  nf  Bntisfh  mannfatlnie  ;  by 
winch  a  demonstration  of  eominerciai  narfare  uuiieerlaiiily  inteiiiltd. 
Ihit  it  is  sneh  as  every  independent  nation,  cvtn  in  lime  of  |u;.c<\ 
has  a  ri;;;ht  toiesorl  lo  wilhonl  jrivin^  oii'cnce:  and  if  the  eoniineite 
of  America  were  to  be  materially  iiiteiruplt^d,  a  lednciion  of  her  ini- 
jioilatioij  of  Eiuopean  articles  became  indisjiensable.  Th.s  la»,df- 
t«r  different  siispensions,  is  not  yel  npeHled.  Of  its  wisdom,  ns  a 
coniinerrial  measure,  there  may  be  doubts  ;  bnt  as  an  annoyance  of  oar 
trade,  for  the  purpose  of  enforcing  respect  for  thcirSy  vie  liaie  no  nghl  to 
complain  of  it-"i 

"U  we  ha«l  tieated  th«'  onmmerce  of  Aineiica  wifli  sinreiiiy,  iii- 
sl('t.d  of  molest  ma  if,  as  we  have  seen,  IJV  A  REPE'HTIOJS  OF 
THL  MOST  DISGRACKI  L'L  CHICANE,  that  n.mmerce  «ouM 
liave  suffered  less,  and  onr  omii  ends  won  Id  iiave  been  answered. 
Such  an  appeal  to  the  good  sense  of  that  country,  would  certainly 
have  been  less  likely  to  produce  war  than  tiie  sophistry  with  which 
till  y  haTH  been  treated,  and  of  which  every  man  in  it  inut<t  deled. 
tliefoily."§ 

*'  F»r  so  extensive  an  injury  lo  a  country  jvhose  right  of  indepen- 
ievt  soreretgnty  ivas  violated,  and  whose  commeiee  wns  des(niy»d  by 
tins  proteediii;:,  il  would  have  been  in  vain  to  starch  for  uuihurilK* 
tM-  precedents  any  where."JJ 


We  have  ieen  that  French  conlular  certificates  oi 
the  origin  of  the  cargo  ot  a  vcflel,  by  the  oider.s  in 
council  fubje6led  both  vcflel  and  cargo  to  condemnation. 


Idem,  pp.  57  &c  58.       fldcm,  page  58.  +  Idem,  page  59. 

§  Idem,  page  6J.  |1  Idem,  page  Ci. 


•i    11 


a,... 


K^: 


rr*~~-« 


112 


THE    OLiVi:    BRANCH. 


.k;  t 


On  the   Iniquity  of  this  feature  oi  tlie  orders,   Mr.  Ba- 
ring  remarks  : — 

"We  ill  many  rnsrss  icqnirc  foroiirn  orliclcs,  imported  into  \\\h 
rountry  (o  be  arcomiianitMl  l>y  (-edirirates  fV<in)  niir  censnln  abi  nad. 
IVotiiiii(j  cin  therefore,  be  nn>re  frivolous  iban  the  asserlioii  of  our 
viiibt  to  compiniii  of  tlie  ae(|uie.seeii<e  of  Adjcrlran  nurchaiils  in  llic 
regulalioua  of  France  rebpcctiiig  ceitificales  of  origin."* 


'!  I 


I  hope  tlie  reader  will  attend  to  tlie  refult   of  this  fea- 


ture ot  the  orders  in  council.  Let  it  never  be  forgotten. 
It  h  wortliy  ol  !)eing  home  in  ctertial  rcmenihrdnce. 
It  they  lw-1  no  otlier  odious  teaiure,  tliis  would  he  fiifR- 
cient  to  difi^race  them  and  their  authors  and  alicftors. 
Suppofe  Mr.  George  Cahot,  Mr.  James  Lloyd,  jiin. 
Timothy  Pickernif)-,  or  Commodore  Dale,  or  any  oth- 
er ciXiAcn  OI  the  United  States,  to  fend  a  veffel  to  fca, 
owned  hy  hinifelf,  manned  with  American  failors,  and 
Icoaded  with  American  produ6]:ions — hound  tor  the  foli- 


taiv  corner  ot  En 


rope 


Swed 


en,  wluc 


ti  w 


as    not   mtcr- 


dl(!ied  by  the  orders  in  council — fuppofe  her  provided 
wilh  a  Ficnch  confuiar  certificate  of  the  origin  of  the 
cargo  : — and  finally,  to  clofe  our  fuppofitions,  fuppofe 
her  carried  into  London  hy  a  Biitiih  privateer — and 
brought  bctbrc  Sir  William  Scott  tor  adjudication. — 
She   would  mod   alfuredly    be   condemned   for  an   ix- 


F  lU  N  G  K  M  K  N  T    O  F 


HE  LAW  OF  NATIONS,  /??  //?• 
yV?.<T  provided  zc'uh  a  French  confuiar  ccrhjicate  !  !  ! 
What  an  awtul  mockery  of  jullice  in  thofe  who  pre- 
fcribed — what  a  Ihametul  prollration  and  bafenefs  ot 
mind  in  thofe  who  preached  lubmiflion  to — fuch  a 
lawlefs  regulation,  calcvd.ited  to  "  prey  upon  the  un- 
protected property  oj  a  friendly  poicer.\ 


♦*  The  comprehensive  tiafiue  of  the  injury  whirh  America  must 
siifi'er  from  one  system,  i»y  le^iv'n^  no  ei  ik-.  of  its  popnialion  tinaf- 
i'cctcd  by  it,  uHortls   iitlie   hfij)?   of  the  iiitei  {erence  of  aisy  for  llic 


*  Idem,  p.^ge  Cfi. 


t  See  Dobloa  Memorial,  p:tge  73. 


f--mis. 


THE   OLIVE    BIlAXCli. 


113 


pirscivalion  of  peace.  The  urciil  iiilcicst  whirli  a  roiintry  still 
jtOHsfBsiiij;  the  mraii*  of  iiidepeiiilftiice,  slioiild  fi-cl  in  {\\v  |)ii-H(<rva. 
tion  of  «»••■»,  tcill  be  tost  in  the  more  immeUiate  and  percvpiiole  conn- 
iji'.eHces  of  our  Jolly  and  injustice."''* 

"  Tlic  new  oriirrs  were  of  a  ilescri|ilinii  to  produce  n  rcToIulion  in 
tlip  mIioIc  commerce  of  the  world — and  a  lodil  deiancenicnl  of  llinsje 
mntuiil  righUatid  relations  by  wliicki  civilized  iialious  huve  liillicrto 
bctn  counected."f 

"  It  must  be  evident  from  (be  wliole  If'nor  of  our  proceedincf!, 
tliut  ('»u}mer('i,il  interest  baa  been  our  moving;  priiicipU  t'lioutjbont  ; 
tliot  every  di  monstralion  oj"  the  slightest  hostility  on  the  other  side,  hti< 
orifiinutcd  Lk  our  attempts  to  advance  that  interest  in  violating  the  rights 
nnd  oitercsts  of  others  ;  and  tbut  if  we  aie  at  last  called  upon  to  take  up 
arms,  i;  is  on  our  part  a  quarrel  about  sugui  and  coffecy  and  not  in  support 
(f  nnlionul  honour-''''^ 

*'  The  conscqncntes  of  sueb  a  state  of  tbinus  mujt  prodncc  rniii 
to  eviry  class  hud  destcnption  of  persona  in  America  :  and  tjiey  arc 
so  ehvione,  ro  inevilablc,  that  one  cannot  avoid  tbiiikini;,  that  llicy 
nuut  iiuvc  occurred  to  ibe  fiainrrs  of  this  new  system  ''^ 

••  To  make  ibis  limil^ttion  of  nriiiral  trade  a  purl  of  the  law  of  na- 
tions, it  is  not  sutiJc.'rnI  that  it  sliotild  be  assciled  bv  one  powtr  — 
It  matt  likewi:se  be  adniilled  by  others  ;  which  is  sa  fur  ft  urn  liavini; 
hccu  the  cusf,  that  in  alt  unr  discoKsions  abont  ne\iiial  rights,  we 
h;>v(>  not  only  rn  vvr  obtained  fiont  any  nation  a  recotjitition  of  this 
rule,  bnt.i7  docs  not  ei\'n  appear  to  have  been  at  any  lime  striou.ily  imiiteil 
tipon."\\ 

"  What  ran  liirn  be  the  object  of  holding;  «p  this  rnle  [of  17">G~ 
ns  the  p.illa(linm  of  onr  maritime  ri<;hts,  or  wiiy  has  >l  been  so  lung 
(luruiaol  ]  Insteatl  of  America  bcMng  accnsed  of  a  dif)))<iiiiion  ofeu- 
noai  b.nent  hostile  to  onr  dignity,  in  refusing;  to  ndutit  into  the  law 
of  nations,  a  principle  which  has  neither  been  admitted  by  #r  erifoTcetl 
UiKfirds  others,  are  we  not  rather  ourselves  wantinjj  to  our  o«tt  <lii;ni- 
ly  ii>  prnclsiminp:  a  Uw  which  we  have  never  ventured  to  <h'feiitJ — in 

ntlnij;  up  a  rij;ht,  which,  by  our   treaties  with   foreign  ualtuns,   wc 

]ittvcuurs«:l\cseneuuragej  them  to  trample  on  ?"^ 

"  It  would  have  been  hlKhly  interesting  to  know  how  many  in- 
KlaiiCf's  [of  fraudulent  ownership]  bad  been  discovered,  as  l>y  j«oiiit- 
ni^  thctu  uul  tu  uur  government,  reditSB    might  have  bicii  ublaintd 


^ 


'Enquiry,  pnge  78.  f  Idem,  pnge  10.        +  Mem,  pHgc  70. 

Jii  Mem,   p.ige  18.  'I  Idem,  page  22.  •[  Mci^n,  ppgc  C.3, 

10* 


1'^ 


Hi 


'I'lIK    OMVK    MKASCW. 


i,(:i 


m 


>!} 


I)y  apiilicalioii  (o  llir.f  of  Atnnira,  w»iosr  Hirirt  attention  to  tlie  ilia- 
laclt T   of  li<  r  t]r,<z  lias  alwius  l»t«n  reip  ukuldi   "* 

"  I  iiMisI  s.i\,  and  I  s|Miil;  li oni  ('(ittsiilt-ratili;  vxprrif nrp,  lliai  llit; 
<  liaiacl- r  of  lln  u'uat  lioiiy  «»t'  iiu  ri-lianls  n,  America,  liUlo  <lc8»  uch 
111"  iiiijiisi  iiisiiHi;!lioiis  ill  wliuli  wrilns  on  lliis  hiihjrct  liau" 
iii(iuli:t;(l.'"|- 

'•■  i^'.niiit;  a  (•oiisiiI('ia!»!('  |».irt  of  ilu'  last  ami  prrsoiil  war,  we  Iinvc 
iiiil'Mii  i«.'.|)ccl(  <l  the  rmliJs  of  iIiosl-  not  roiict'tiied  in  il  I'.ut  the 
cnnd'u:!  nAn  of  Vrancp-  fun  fimiishfaxo  stronsrer  proof's  nf  a  tliurgtnl 
i^t"  HiDH,  (i)i'l  of  inon-  f'lii  ri'r)'i.i  jijttenca  Ay  which  thfj  Irnre  fwirt  inn/di'l, 
Itnn  )rinj  If;  J'dund  ill  fiur  condicl  in  |>soi,  ,\\\A  t>|ill  iiioie  in  l|ic  ircdit 
HI' asnres  v\|)iLli  »<•  liav*'  lucii  ciMisKlfniii;  "| 

"  If  our  romnicici.l  tic  atit*  u  iili  I*()rtti<j;i»l  are  to  be  lielil  up,  iis 
ti.i'v  ii^Vf  hi.'ii,  to  llic  atli!i;rati(i!>  of  htalesiiieii,  we  eaniiol  fail  lo 
iiiiiiiiit'  the  lilx  ral  |>«'iHy  of  An  Ciica  l«)wai(ls  llio  proihne  nf  our  iii- 
<ir..H!i\,  wiiPM  *vr  <  oiisiiif  r  I  lu?  t.iiije  halaiiie  v.liirli  slie  iiiiniially  piiys 
ii<,  and  our  illil;rral  jealousy  of  l»er  intncours''  with  oilier  rouii- 
lilts,    (loni    wliiiii  aloi.c  tliat  Iciltn'Cf  thii  l>i'  paid '"iJi 

*:  If  uu  fi)rn»<  r  observations  piddiiee,  as  I  ilm.!;  Iiiey  nsiist,  a  ron- 
v'ietion  tliiit  llie  tiai'.i'  imd  properly  so  sporled  viiili,  lirloiij;  to  an 
hfiiu'st  nenlral,  llure  ran  lie  no  <lonlit  that  <ii(r  eoiuhui  tou:.i(ls  it 
ill  SI  I  vts  the  lumeo:  Tin:  .MOST  INQLALIllKl)  K\.l  L  STICE  "|| 

'J'he  readier  wiio  compares  the  flvlc  and  fuhrtanre  of 
the  iiic.n.i.orials,  with  Mr.  Baring's  efHiy,  will  find  that 
C'jincidonce,  tliat  cnorcncy,  that  incTiilible  conviction 
which  refiilt  ironi  trm!i  and  honourable  princii,)Ics.  'I'lic 
American  merchants,  eloquently  and  convincinaly  plead- 
ixvz  tor  the  iio;hts  of  their  country,,  and  their  own  perfon- 
al  intereils,  linjr.illy  airailcd — fpeak  nearly  the  fame  lan- 
{■(uuge,  and  make  ufe  ot"  the  lame  arguments,  as  Mr. 
Baring,  when  he  rou^lit  to  fave  his  country  from  the  dif- 
grace  and  difiionour  of  employing  her  tranfcendent  naval 
power  to  overv;helm  and  prey  upon  the  coiiimerce  of  an 
unoffending  neutial,  merely  becaufe  that  neutral  was  not 
in  d  Rate  to  defend  itfelf. 

I  truft  that  no  apology  can  he  nrceffary  for  thefe  copi- 
ous extrafts  on  this  all-important  topic.  The  high  (land- 
hig  and  chara61er  of  the  writer,  as  I  have  already  ob- 
feived,  and  take  the  liberty  to  repeat,  entitle  his  fenti- 
ments  to  peculiar  attention.  Mot  cover,  as  an  Englifh 
merchant,  intereft,  were  he  fwayed  by  fuch  a  confidera- 


14  i  { 


*  Mem,  pns-e  52.      f  ''Iciii,  page  So. 
page  88.     fl  IJcio,  page  5". 


T  Iilcm,  page  71.     §  Idem, 


THF.   OMVE    BIIAKC'II. 


LIS 


lion,  wovild  have  led  him  to  advocate  the  orders.  But 
he  li<id  too  liigh  a  rc)Tard  for  the  lionourof  iiis  couDf  y  to 
wilh  it  to  be  I'acriliced  to  paltry  ai\d  lordid  confideiatioiii 
ol'  intereft. 

What  a  huniiliatin^T  contrail  tor  an  American  to  refleft 
„pon — Mr.  Baring  |)ieadin^  tl»c  caufe  oi'  the  injured 
Uii'tcd'Stiues  in  London — and  Mr.  Pickering  and  hnnd- 
rctls  oF  other  Americans  pleadnig  in  ljt)lh)n  an.'  elle- 
wht-rc  agamft  th.eii  own  chantry,  and  in  deicnce  ol  Brit- 
ilii  inroads  and  Britilli  violence  ! 


CIIA!\  XVI. 


Ewbf!rfi:o.  Slfucdion  of  ,'im'''r\cfin  Cnv}-nifr:f.  Fifcfious 
clamour.  Embargo  a  u-ise^  j^rn.h'utf  and  ucccssur/f 
meui^are. 

I  now  procectl  to  connder  the  fiihicft  of  tlie  ciTd)argo, 
which  w.-is  one  ot  the  moft  potent  uiilrinnents  enipl(.'>^•ed 
to  exafperate  and  inlldtnc  the  pafhonr,  ot  tlic  jieople  ot" 
the  eaitern  Hates,  and  which  aiuuiliv  prepared  a  portion 
ot  thcin  {or  (ipen  rehilance  to  the  government. 

The  julliee  and  proprietv  ot  every  meafure  depend  on 
the  circnmftances  that  accompany  and  inthice  it — the 
motives  th.t  lead  to  its  afloptit)n — and  the  confeqnenccs 
it  is  calculated  to  produce.  Let  us  apply  tlufc  tefts  to 
the  embargo. 

Tlie  readei"  has  had  the  decrees  and  orders  in  coimcil 
laid  t)etore  him  in  extcnso.  He  has  (een  the  cxpofition 
ot  the  injufllce  of  t!je  latter  by  Mr.  Barmg.  And  tic 
has  had  an  opportunity  himfelf  of  calculating  the  effecls 
It  both  decrees  and  orders. 

From  a  calm  confideration  of  thefe  documents,  and  of 
their  inevitable  operation  on  our  trade,  it  is  perte^dly  ob- 
vious, ttiat  had  our  veiTels  (ailed  in  Decembe?  1807,  and 
J.inu.iry,  February  and  March,  1808,  as  freely  as  they 
lud  formerly  done,  they  would  have  univerrally  falJen 


I 


%  'j 


%fc 


^-:---^:— V^.,:'- 


116 


TUE    OLIVE   nuANCII. 


fdciificcs  ;  tliofc  bound  to  France  and  licr  depcndcMuii ;, 
to  Bntiili — and  iholc  bound  for  the  Britifh  dominions,  ui 
French  cruifeis. 

This  would  have  produced  an  ahnoft  univcrfal  banL. 
ruptcy  anioni;  our  iufurance  offices  and  merchants.  On; 
/lups,  our  f<lilot'^,  <i:id  our  cargoes  would  have  augmcn!. 
cd  the  lefouiccs  of  the  belligerent.^,  and  cntecbled  our. 
felvcs  The  only  queflion  was,  whether  our  veflc!, 
fhould  remain  at  our  wharves,  the  property  of  our  nici- 
chants,  or  be  carried  to  France  and  England,  the  prcv  < ; 
privateers.  But  for  the  embargo,  there  would  have  beti; 
fuch  a  calamitous  Iccne  produced  ax  has  rarely  occurrci! 
in  any  natl.)n.  We  (hould  have  fuffered  .ll  tlie  v/orll 
confequcnces  of  war,  without  any  of  its  comptniatorv 
advantages.  Our  merchants  would  have  once  nioie  made 
*'  the  welkin  rwig"  with  their  complaints  of  injury — tlieir 
eloquent  appeals  to  the  law  ol  nations — their  clan  (  nis 
lor  redrefs — their  reproaches  ot  the  government  lor  it 
lupinenefs,  and  their  hdemn*  pledges  of  fupport.  Wc 
fhould  have  again  had  to  ncgociafe  in  vain  for  repai;.- 
tion.  And  we  (liould  have  been  goaded  ultimately  intc 
a  war,  after  having  been  defeated  in  our  endeavours  to 
cfcapc  it,  and  deprived  of  the  mofl  efficient  means  for 
its  profecution. 

It  has  been  faid  that  the  Berlin  decree  i"  I  having  been 
carried  into  operation  againfl  American  vefFcls  ;  and  our 
governincnt  not  having  received  an  authentic  copy  ol  the 
oiders  in  council  ;  therefore  it  was  not  j'lflified  in  !!;;j 
recommendation  of  the  embargo.  And  thus  tljat  dogicc; 
of  vigilance  and  care  of  the  interefls  of  the  country  aiv.l 
of  the  property  of  the  merchants,  which  entitled  Mr. 
Jeffcrfon  to  a  monument  from  the  mercantile  inteiefl, 
has  been  made  the  ground-work  of  the  moil  ferious  ac- 
cufation. 

There  is  no  meafure  of  the  general  government  fioiii 
its  firfl  organization  to  the  prelent  hour,  more   ftrongly 


)  t 


*  I  had  written  *'  hollow  anA  ileceptions"— Tint  I  stnivk  tlie  word' 
out — how  piopiTly  the  reHifer  will  decide.  1  am  doubtful  my.stU  oi' 
the  con-cctiicss  of  the  aUev.^tiou. 


■  ..  .,;...  ^..- jk  .  >-' 


.-k  jsfirJS*^*!!^**^*!!"**.- 


i^l*^?:^^^^  "--^1 


iaifciH,' 


THE   OLIVE  HUAN'Cir. 


ur 


Ticiit  ;(,M  It 


rnarkf'd  with  wifdoin,  with  loidl^iht,  ynd  witli  attention 
tiidiitv,  tiiaii  lliis  rccumniciidalioii.  'IhcMC  is,  ncvcitlic- 
jcls,  no  meafnic  that  has  gencrdtcd  more  la^tious  or  fcnfc- 
Icih  clainoui — more  envenomed  piejniliee — nioie  un- 
bliidiing  niiricprcleiitation. 

The  atiov-ions  cafe  of  the  Horizon,  wl-.ich  was  the  firfl 
therein  the  Berlin  dcciec  was  Cduied  iiitorllVtt  aj^anilt 
American  vcllcls,  had  previoully  occuued.  ()t  this 
caL"  Mr.  Ainidrong  had  tranfniitted  an  account  in  a  Ict- 
tci  dated  Nov.  12,  1H07,  ot  wliicii  I  have  {nbniittcd  a 
copy  10  the  reader.  Ihis  letter  and  the  documents  ac- 
coiiinanving  It,  eftal)lilhcd  hcNond  a  j)oniliility  ot  doubt 
t!ie  extreme  dan<;cr  o\  our  commerce  troni  I'lcnch  crui- 
sers and  French  courts. 

Ot  the  dctcrniination  of  the  Britifli  government  to 
meet  the  Berlin  decree  with  meahncs  of  etpial  violence, 
unil)u!>ted  information  had  been  received  !)V  our  admin- 
iii;,it;on  in  privite  lctt.?rs  and  even  ii\  the  pu!)lic  papers. 
Tlie  iecornmendjtioi;  ot  the  eml)aigo  took  place  on  the 
i8t!i  of  December  :  and  on  th.it  dav  there  had  !)een  pub- 
lilhcd  in  the  National  Intel iijrencci  ;hc  followiu<f  para- 
graph  from  a  Lonuon  paper  : 

/        "  London^  Js'ovembc  10. 

"  \  prnclam'tion  is  n^w,  wo  undc'stanel,  in   I'rudint'ss  iVir  h  h  iiiMiej* 

(v's   siguv.UwT,    iitfbii'iiii;^   Franco   and    llic    uhnlr   of    liec   '■  s-.il    kiiiR- 

tlo^iis  III  M  stHl"    ot"  s  fj;f,    Hud  j)  (jhibit  )Hf  nH  ititeicouvue  with  her  ov 

ihnn — tiiul  al  entrniice  of  Vf^SHc!j  itito  h  v  or  t'leir  /luroous,    kxi  ci'T 

ur     ^rcil      v.-~      11  AVI       CLi.AU!c.U    last     VIIOM     a     ilKlTIsU     I'OUTj     KITUKU 
UCMK    Oil    FOlltlGN." 

Thus,  between  the  two  nation*;,  our  commerce  was 
completely  cut  up  by  the  roots,  'i'he  only  part  ot  Ku- 
rope,  excej)t  her  own  dominions  and  dependencies,  tliat 
Gieat  Biitain  allowed  us  to  trade  with,  was  Sweden. 
An<l  tile  Milan  decree  by  an  extravajjancc  ot  defpotfrn, 
tolly  and  wickcdnefs,  never  exceeded  in  the  annals  o'l' 
piracy  and  rapine,  regarded  every  neutral  vetrel,  tint  had 
been  fearched  hv  a  Briiifh  ciuizer,  as  ipfo  \<xtio  denalion- 
dlized,  and  liable  to  be  taken,  bound  whcni'e  or  wrere 
ihe  might.  The  uiiud  is  loll  in  alloniihmcnt  at  this  ne plus 


^.-*i 


tl  I 


lis 


THE    OLIVE    BUAXLH. 


iM 


i 


U' 


I'iV 


it/ha  ol  inacliicls  and  rapine.     It  was  punllliir  g  as  crlni; 
nal,    an  atl  pertcdiy    innocem — wholly  unavoid  ible— 
and    in    wliicli    the    party    punifhcd    had    been    nicicly 
paHivc. 

Under  thcfe  cirrnninanccs,  wlrat  prudent  mcrthHiii 
would  lend  a  vcIIlI  to  lea — liable  to  raplmc  whatever 
nught  be  her  dellination  ?  For  even  it  bound  to  Swedct;, 
or  any  other  eoniei  ot  Europe,  (if  any  fuch  there  won- 
not  end)raced  in  the  icope  (d  decrees  arid  orders  in  coun- 
cil, Ihe  might  be  (earched  by  an  Knglllh  privateer,  ami 
tliiu  be  {ubjctted  to  capture  by  the  next  French  privateer 
tlirtt  might  overluail  her. 

AVhatcouiIe  had  a  government  to  fleer,  which,  bound 
to  watch  o\er  tnc  interells  ol  its  conftituents,  was  lin- 
ccrely  difjjofed  to  pertorni  tiutt  duty  faithfullv  ?  Let  any 
man  not  trammeh.'d  by  latlion  or  inveterate  pr  jiidite, 
calmly  confider  this  queflion,  and  I  teel  molt  pettcHly 
fatis(icd,  he  will  reply — the  alternative  was,  war  againll 
both  nations — or  a  general  embargo. 

Nutuithitandng  this  plain  (l-ite  ot  the  cafe — notwith- 
ftandmg  the  nnjKiious  nccetritv  ot  this  nieafure — tlicrc 
is  no  dti  of  tiir  government,  fmce  the  inauguration  ol 
Ml.  JefFejlon,  th.:t  excited  fo  much  outciv  or  clamour. 
It  was  the  fulj^d  of  inceiFant  abufe  in  all  the  federal 
papers  trom  New  Hampfliire  to  Georgia,  and  from  tlie 
AlilRlfippi  to  the  Atlantic.  It  has  been  ten  thoufaiid 
times  reiterated  tiiat  it  was  unnecefFarilv  opprefTive — tiiat 
it  was  wicked  and  tyrannic. d — dictated  by  Napoleon— 
a  farrifice  of  the  deaieft  intercffs  of  the  nation — and,  to 
crown  the  whole,  unconjiitutional. 

In  times  of  fafction,  the  public  poflefTes  a  vondeilul 
facultv  of  fwallowing  the  moil  monftrous  and  improba- 
ble  falTehoofls.  It  was  almoft  univcrfally  believed  in  the 
Kaftern  States,  that  the  embargo  was  the  result  of  a  com- 
Innatwn  between  ike  fouthern  and  wejiern  Jiates,  to  rum 
New  England!  I  !  I  have  repeatedly  heard  this  alfertion 
made  by  men  otherwise  of  found  rninds  and  cultivated 
unrlei  {landings,  ,'nd  whose  veracity  convinced  me  that 
they  did  not  attempt  deception,  but  were  themselves  de- 


•«^  ■•-'-« -■!»«« 


TUG    Ol.lVk:    BIlANCri. 


119 


a-ivcil.  Tiiis  extravagant  idea  proceeds  upon  tlic  fiippo- 
iition,  iHat  \hc  incrthatit  whofe  vcllels  arr  obliged  to  rc- 
inam  unemployed  at  the  wharves,  will  in  eoMsc([uencc 
be  ruined  ;  but  that  the  .iirrieulturill  whose  wheat,  flour, 
lice,  cotton,  naval  Uores,  ike.  ftaguate  on  his  hands,  will 
thereby  fuller  no  injuiv,  .lithough  thev  fall  in  value  30, 
^0,  ,50,  or  60  per  cent.      '  i'is  pafhng   ihange  ! 

Never  was  there  a  nu),  e  taHious  or  luiloundcd  clamour 
rvcited.  Never,  I  repeat,  was  a  public  nicafure  more 
loudly  called  for  by  exiUing  circuniUanccs,  never  one 
ni'tter  timed,  and  never  one  that  would  have  produced 
more  salutary  consecpienccs,  had  not  fafHoa  deprived  it 
ot  its  efhoacv. 

I  feel  perferllv  satisfied,  that  with  the  knowledge  Mr. 
JcfL'rson  |)oireired  of  the  niightv  dangers  impending  over 
our  commerce,  he  would  have  juiUy  merited  impeaeh- 
inent  for  a  derelirlion  of  his  duty,  had  he  not  recom- 
mended an  embargo  for  its  protc«^)ion. 

Mr.  Pickering  was  the  carlielt,  the  mofl  ardent,  and 
the  nioft  ^iealous  opponent  of  the  embargo.  Alter  hav- 
ing in  vain  made  every  exertion  to  prevent  its  palfage  in 
the  fenate,  he  laboured  to  excite  a  flrenuous  oppofitioii 
to  it  in  his  own  (late,  and  in  the  t)ther  eaftern  ifates. 
He  wrote  a  lojig,  elaborate,  and  impafTioned  letter  againff. 
it  to  the  governor  of  Mairachufctts,  in  which  he  cndca- 
voured  to  prove  the  meafure  wholly  unneccffHry — and 
infifted  that  England  had  done  our  commerce  no  efTen- 
tial  injury.  He  regarded  it  ineicly  as  a  meafure  of  hof- 
tility  to  England. 

To  form  a  correct  idea  of  the  embargo,  it  muft  be 
confidered  in  two  points  of  view,  wholly  diflinfcl — one, 
its  original  enaftion — the  other  its  duration.  The  K^tter 
may  have  been,  and  I  believe  was  an  error.  But  I 
fliould  not  hefitate  at  this  moment  to  fubmit  thedecifiori 
of  the  queftion  to  Rufus  Kmg,  George  Cabot,  or 
James  Lloyd,  jun.  whether  an  embargo  was  not  an  in- 
tlifpcnfible  meafure,  at  a  period  when  all  Europe,  e.\ 
ccpt  Sweden,  was  declared  in  a   flate  of  blockade  ? 


i'    ^H 


■TT-'^h* 


120 


TUl.  oLiVE  BUAXCII. 


The  cmh-wfrp  wMs  bid  on  thf*  23'!  of  December,  t8r.  • 
Mr.   Pickering's    letter    was    dated    Feb.    16,     1808  -l\ 
courle  Us  t'nunders  must   have   been    huiled  <nrairi{t  \lj- 
enattiun  ot  the  law — and  had   no  leterence  whatever  to 
its  duration.  '  * 

I  deem  it  thereforo  bio;hlv  proper  to  pl.ice  Mr.  PlcL 
cririg's  declarations  in  c()iitr,.st  wit''  each  other — and 
likc'vife  with  the  rfv.l  ilate  of  affairs.  The  rolcr 
win  tiicn  be  enabled  to  decide  the  queUion  correctly 
hiuifelf. 

Let  me  explain  tlie  four  fuccecding  columns.  The 
firft  contains  a  ilatement  of  the  Bi-tiih  depredations 
on  American  conmierce,  abflraMed  horn  the  mercan- 
tile memorials  of  180,5  6 — the  fecond,  Mr,  Bafinir's 
ilatement  ot  the  effects  of  the  orders  in  conned — the 
third,  the  relolution  01  the  fenate,  Feb.  10,  1806,  tm 
wliich  Mr.  Picketing  voted  in  the  afRimative — und 
tiie  fourth,  Mr.  Pickering's  vindication  of  England, 
Teb.   i6y  1808. 


\!i : 


1305—6. 
MEMOIllALS. 

"  V\  r  r.iiifine  oiir- 
Bclvf's  to  I  lie  M,«(ic  alarm 
iiiii.  iKMMuse  uiore  exten 
she  (latent  ovu  and  con 
dtinnat  oT)»  of  Ainencin 
ffx'/'  0;/  Great  lin- 
tc'i  "* 

"  New  vt'SR«'ls,  on 
tVuit  fn'it  piissijif  tV«»iii 
the  I'nited  S;  ilt's  to  lin- 
lope,  iiif  aii«sie<l,  fAf- 
lifil  O'li  of  Jiuir  course, 
aii<l  I'  juri<>ii»  ly  (l(-i:iin- 
e(\  uih!i  r  ilip  vf>xiit!OUK 
prctt-itcf  of  a  emit  iiMiity 
oi'vny  ifff  from  iherouu 
ti'v  or  colony  of  a  btlh- 
gcrci.t  "♦ 

"  It  cnnnot  heroine 
111!  uiiia'iianiniity  «if  h 
greal  and  i»ovveiful  tii\- 


I8<»3. 
MR    n.\RI?.'G 

"  /Ut  trade  di- 
rectly J  rotn  Amer- 
ica to  every  port 
avd  country  at  war 
7vitfi  (jren*  li'i 
luiVy  or  from  nhich 
ilie  B  it;sh  ft-S  /s 
e.iclu'led,  it  tnUilly 
pri>!nl):t€d  In  t/iis 
uencral  prohihi 
(ion,  every  pari  of 
Tiuiope,  with  the 
exception  at  pre- 
lenf  of  ^u-eden,  is 
includtd :  and  tin 
distinction  vliut- 
e.i  er  is  made  be- 
tuieen  the.  domestic 
produce  of  Ameri- 
Cii,  avd  iha;  ot  the 
colonies,  rS'CWpoTt- 


Mr   Picker. 

Mr.     Picfcor- 

ir<.>''s  senti- 

ing"^     senli- 

wen/s,  Feb- 

viev's,    Feb- 

ruary    lo, 

ruary         'G, 

lbu(j. 

laoii. 

"Therap- 

«'    Tll<5C 

ttnc  &  roii- 

farfB       I'.i'in- 

iK-iniuilion 

eostrat", 

under      or- 

ihi«l            a'- 

<l>  IS  of  the 

thoiiL'h     En- 

Briti<;l«  20- 

{jiat.d       "'ill 

ver  mieiU, 

her          (l>"ii- 

(111(1  ailjiiili 

saiid  shp'^  'if 

riilioDS     of 

war,        cciilil 

Uieircoiirls 

have         'I'S- 

of  iiiiinii  il ■ 

t  roved      oiH 

ty,  of  \nie- 

e(nii"n<  1'  e, 

rieau      vos- 

SHE      MAS 

spIh         and 

KE'l  lY 

•  heir      rar- 

DONE      IT 

jjoes,on  the 

M»  ESJ-l  N- 

pretext    of  TlAL      IN- 

— -Ji#-'in^' 


THE    OLIVE    liUANClI. 


iU^l 


ber,  iHr.-, 

1808    -i 

gainil  tl;c 

uatcver  lo 

Mr.  Pic];, 
'ther — and 
"he  rci:!c;- 
1  correctiv 


ms.  Tiie 
prccUtious 
L"  nierran- 
■.  Bannir's 
incil — the 

1806,    (Ml 

ative — and 
England, 


Mr.     P 

chn- 

inq'<i 

lenlt- 

?//e»'s 

l-el'- 

TUiiry 

% 

IbOtf. 

««  TIksc 

'arts 

f.um- 

>iislrctt' 

> 

ii><l 

a!- 

hoDL'b 

En. 

;lui.tl 

Willi 

)«i 

llc'ii- 

<U|(I  si) 

ll>^  III 

.ar, 

C(MllJ 

ave 

lifS- 

roytd 

mu 

(.111 'in 

'  «S 

HE 

l!\S 

{E«l  lY 

)0^^^ 

IT 

\0  \L> 

M-N- 

lAl. 

IN- 

tion  io  prey  upon  the  un-  ed  from  thence.* 
protected  property    of    a       *'  II   would   pio- 
fiicudlij  power''''*  bably  be  no   cxii;;- 

'•  Hiviiij*  totally  sup-  ^c-ration  lo  s-.iy, 
pifusj-d  tl»e  external  Ibal  upwards  of 
oinuuu'iTC  of  lier  cnc-  three  ^fourths  of  oil 
ini:s,  Great  Britain  is  the  merchants,  seu- 
now  counccLled  to  appro-  men,  d^e  engaged 
enale  to  herself  that  of  in  commerce  or  lin- 
ker friends  "t  ligation    in    Amcr- 

"Til. 8  rule  must  in-  ?ca,  havcy  at  some 
f.illil»ly  ileslroy  tbt-  com-  time  or  other,  suf 
nuTie  of  lbi8touuliy.''t/e'tt/     from       ads 

"This  novfl  \nun:i-  of  our  cruisers, 
jiIp  ^dcs  lo  notfiing  short  which  to  Ihem 
of  ihe  destruction  of  neu'  have  uppcami  nii- 
tral  (ommerce."X  j"st,     and     wli'cii 

'^  Every  sail  is  stretch-  fK^qucntly       inusl 
ed   to  colled   the   unwary  have       been       so 
Americans,   who    are   un    They    read,     it     is 
!,v.'<pedinp,ly    coufdrng    in  true,  of   the   power 
uhat  teas  the  law   of  nu-  of   Fmnce       BU  I 
tions"X  THKVFIilKLEV. 

"Our  vessels  and  ef  ERVUVYTHAT 
ftits,  to  a  I  ii^e  amount,  OF  BRllAlN-'f 
li;ivi-  aiely  bttii  raptur-  "  l*,^  <i(l<  mpt. 
C(i  by  h«r  commission-  inc  to  confiue  (be 
til  ctuisf  IS,  upon  the  Enropeiin  trade  of 
foniKlatioii  of  new  pmi  Anu'iica  to  Great 
c:|)ics^  suddenly  invent-  B'llain,  and  by 
C(l  "§  the  avowal    of    an 

"  rhr'  revival  of  her  intenimn  fo  tav 
disr'ided  rule  was  chu  that  trade  on  Us 
ractenzed  with  such  cir  pa'sa^e  to  the  con' 
cumHauces  of  imquiiy  tinent,  tve  are  re- 
cirf  violence  as  ralhei  to  turning  to  t/iose 
liciylitr  I  by  thecoiitrasi  principles,  lo  xvh'ich 
llio  vt'Heralion  of  m«n-  e'-'^n  as  a  colony^ 
kind  for  the  past  jus-  si,,,  icould  not  sub- 
tire  of  her  tribunals '"§  rnit  It  is  immntc- 
"  The  heralds  (jy  rial,  whether  H  he 
whom  this  inslru'-tion  a  tai  on  stamps  or 
\ias  first  annouuod,  on  cotton.  This 
"  tjuesiion     has     been 


their    hcinp  JURY."* 
employ«'d    in 
a  trade  Mitli 
the    enemies 
of  Great  Bri-  ^ 

lain,     piuhi- 
hi  led  in  "e 

tunc  of 

l»eacc,  is  ar^ 
tinprovoked 
aggression  up- 
on the  pro- 
perty of  the 
citizens  of 
the  United 
Si'atcs — a  vi- 
olation of 
their  neutral 
ri.fits —  -and 
<iH  encroach' 
ntent  upon 
thiir  nation- 
al inddpend' 
ence^ 


*  Bostiin  MfirtOri  il 

IN   York  Memorial. 

\  Pliiludelphia  Alc- 
moi'iAl 

^  Baltimore  Memori- 
al.' 


already    the  subject 

*  B'^iring's  .Ex- 
amination, p    12. 
t  Idem,  p  74 
X  Idem,  p.  76. 


u 


*  Letter 
from  (lie 
Iton  Timo- 
thy Pck- 
criiig, sena- 
tor from 
the  state  of 
Mass.  to 
-  hi-s     excel- 

*  Resolu  leiicy  Jas, 
tion  agreed  Sullivan, 
to  by  the  goveruorof 
senate  of  the  the  said 
V.  S.  8CC  stale,  page 
page  93.  12. 


•.(f'l 


Mi 


.»^ 


i22 


T.iiE  OLIVE  niiAxcn. 


wlierc  llic  rommanJcrs  of  a  long  and  blao- 
of  hiT  coiiituissioii«'«J  ilu  uar  ,•  and  it 
nnizrrs,  v. lio  ;it  tlie  can  hnidlij  be  sup- 
Siimi;  linn;  carritd  it  in-  po^ed  that  Aineri- 
til  cffLCl  with  every  cir-  en  icill  noiv  submit 
cumslavce  of  ag^iava-  to  a  diiecl  attack 
tion,  if,  of  t>ti(ii  iiii  nc  I,  on  her  sovereign 
time  can  be  any  aggra-  and  independent 
vatioti."§  righls:'X 


It  Is  net  for  me,  to  reconcile  Mr.  Pickering's  fenti- 
ments  U)  each  other,  nor  to  the  tenor  of  the  memorials... 
nur  to  Mr.  Baring's  correal  view  ot  tie  orders  in  council. 
Let  it  be  obferved,  that  the  "  unprovoked  aggrf;//ion"  of 
1806,  remained  unredrefrcd  at  th.e  dc»te  of  the  letter  to 
gv)vernor  Sullivan,  February  1808.  And  furtlier,  to  this 
""  unprovoked  aggre/i'ion,'"  0*1  1806,  the  orders  in  council 
liad  been  added  in  1807,  which  more  than  quintupled  (he 
01  iginal  outrage.  But  even  independent  ot  this  extrava- 
gant addition,  it  is  out  of  mv  power  by  all  the  rules  oi; 
logic  at  my  command,  to  fatisfy  mv  mind  how  "  the  cap- 
tut  e  and  condemnation  of  our  v/'/fels — under  falfe  ''pre- 
texts'' and,  as  appears  by  the  memorials  of  the  merchant?, 
to  a  mofl.  enormous  amount — "  the  utiprovoked  aggref- 
fion  upon  the  property  of  our  citizens'" — the  "  violatioti 
of  our  neutral  rights'' — and  "  the  encroachment  upon  our 
national  independence"  can  be  made  to  accord  with  the 
broad,  the  fweeping,  the  unqualified  alfeition  that  Great 
Britain  has  "  really  done  our  commerce  nocjfential  injury." 

To  be  ferious  ;  for  the  fubjeft  requires  ferioufnefs  and 
fobricty.  Is  not  this  a  moft  aftonifhing  and  never-enough- 
to-be-lamcnted  inftance  ot  the  h  ,rrible  delufion  in  which 
llrong  paity  palTions  involve  thofe  who  fubmit  to  their 
guidance  ?  Can  liglit  and  darknefs — vice  and  virtue — 
icraplis  and  demons — be  more  oppofite  to  each  other  than 
tiiefe  alTertions  are  ?  Would  it  not  h^ve  been  a  moft  aw- 
ful inconfiftency  bad  they  both  been  cotemporaneous— - 
h  id  the  ftate  ot  affairs  at  the  period  of  making  the  fc- 
cond,  been  exaftly  what  it  was  at  the  period  of  making 
the  (irft  ?     But  what  an  immenfe  aggravation  does  this 


■•ft .  !■■; 


THE  OLIVE    BRANCH. 


123 


inconnilency  receive  fiom  the  conf  leration  that  in  Feb. 
1808,  tiic  fir II  grievances  had  been  luncchelled,  and 
otlicis,  as  I  have  ftated,  incomparably  more  intolerabh, 
been  added  ?  The  orders  in  council  were,  in  outrage, 
and  injuftice,  and  intra6Viori  of  our  rii^hts  of  fovcrelgnt\', 
as  farijeyond  tlie  ground  of  complaint  in  1806,  as  wanton 
murder  is  beyond  mere  adault  and  battery. 

Never  was  1  more  deceived  in  my  liie,  tlian  I  am 
at  this  moment,  if  every  candid,  unblaffed  reader  does 
not  agree  with  me  t'.iat  the  oppofition  to  the  operation  ot 
tiie  embargo  was  ta6Vious,  abfurd,  and  impolitic  in  tl.c 
extreme  ;  and  that  thofe  who  rendered  tlie  law  nugatory 
and  unavailing,  have  a  high  crime  to  anhver  for  to  th-ir 
injured  country. 


tm 


In  order  t)  avoid  the  prcITurc  of  the  embargo,  and  to 
liold  out  inducements  to  our  citizetis  to  violate  it,  the 
fcllowincT  order  in  council  was  publiihed  bv  the  lint.lh 
government. 

GEORGE  R. 

fnstriictions  to  the  commanders  of  onr  sJiips  of  v:iir 
ami  privateers.  Given  at  our  court  at  fViiuhorn  the 
nth  day  of  April,  1808,  in  the  AHtli  year  of  cur 
reign. 

Our  will  and  pleasure  is,  that  you  do  not  inten-upt  ai\v  neutral  vcs«;cl 
Iiiilen  with  luniber  and  provisions,  and  going  to  any  of  oiir  eolonii  ?, 
i  iiUKiS,  or  settlements,  in  the  West  Indies,  or  Sonlh  America,  to 
T\:.omsoever  the  property  may  apjjear  to  bolonj^,  and  notwithstanding 
a'.icli  vessel  may  noi  have  regular  ciearanci's  Jiiu!  dootiinenls  on  board  ; 
and  in  case  anj  vessel  shall  bo  met  with,  and  being  on  her  due  course 
to  the  alledged  port  of  destination,  an  endorsement  shall  he  made  on 
one  or  more  of  the  princi|»al  papers  of  such  vessels,  spcc'i!)in!^  the  (h'S- 
tlnation  alleged,  and  the  place  where  the  vessel  was  so  vibiteci  ;  and  in 
case  any  vessel  so  laden  sliall  arrive  and  deliver  her  cargo  at  any  of  our 
colonies,  islands,  or  settlements  aforesaid,  such  vessel  shall  be  pennit" 
ted  to  receive  her  freight,  and  to  depart,  either  in  biilhist,  or  with  any 
goods  that  may  be  legally  exported  in  such  ^essel,  and  to  proceed  to 
any  uablockaded  port,  uolsvithslandiug  the  present  hostilities,  or   any 


t'l    '.' 


X- 


-fc'- 


134 


THE    OLIVE    BRAN'CII. 


i'unifc  'lORtililies  wliich  may  take  place ;  and  a  passport  for  sncu 
▼essel  may  be  grantcil  to  llie  vessel  by  she  governor,  orothtr  por. 
son,  liaving  the  chief  civil  coiumaiid  of  such  colony,  island,  or  set- 
tlement. 

G.  U. 

This  unparalleled  dociiinent  demands  attention. — 
The  miniflers  who  proftituted  the  name  ot  their  fovcrcitvn, 
by  fubfcribing  it  to  fuch  an  inftrument,  merit  and  nmii 
receive  the  reprobation  of  every  high-minded  Engliihmnn, 
who  feels  for  the  honor  or  dignity  ot  his  native  country. 
What  !  one  of  the  moft  potent  monarchs  of  the  univerle, 
rather  than  do  jufticeto  an  unoffending  nation,  inviting, 
and  tempting,  and  affording  facihties  to  its  citizens  to 
break  the  laws  of  their  country,  and  openly  purine  the 
infamous  trade  of  fmuggling  ! 

The  fnbjeft  affords  an  ample  field  for,  and  invites 
to  copious  comments.  But  I  forbear.  1  leave  it  to  the 
»  aim  confideration  of  the  candid  reader. 

tHAP.  XYII. 


NM 


I  I 


Enqinrji  into  the  constitutionality  of  the  act  for  enforchu: 
ihe  Embargo.  Compared  with  acts  passed  during  the 
presidency  of  Gen.  Washington  and  John  Jidams — 
JVot  so  rigorous.  Factious  clamour.  Lamentable  pub- 
lic delusion. 

The  original  embargo  aft  had  been  openly  and  fla- 
grantly violated.  The  public  prints  in  Boffon  had 
explicitly  and  audacioufly  invited  the  citizens  to  fct 
it  at  defiance.  The  Britifli  government  had  alfo,  as 
we  have  feen,  added  the  allurement  of  its  powerful^  invi- 
tation. And  it  needed  not  fuch  an  invitation.  There 
are  always  to  be  found  in  every  community,  men  v.'ho 
will  feek  the  fliorteft  road  to  fortune,  whether  through 
the  dark  paths  ot  fmuggling,  or  otherwife.  And  thcfc 
men  united  their  obflrepcrous  biawlings,  withtfiecli- 
mour  raifed  by  thofe  whole  ol'ysR  was  to  harrafs  the 
.rovernmcnt.     Tiius   was    removed   from   the   crime  o' 


^.-^ 


THE    OLIVE    BRANCH. 


125 


finiicrgHniT,  the  odium  it  dcfervcd,  and  transFcrrrd  to  an 
aft  calciildtrd  to  prcfervc  t'ne  property  of  tlic  luciciuints 
iioin  belifiTcrent  depredation  ;  an  at\,  be  it  never  for- 
gotten, vvliicl)  was  tlie  mildclt  mode  ot  proem  in^  that 
redrefs  which  the  mercantile  part  ot  tlie  communitv 
liaJ  fo  h)iidlv  clanionred  lor — and  in  the  pnrfiiit  oi 
'A'hich,  they  had  fo  (olemnly  pledged  themfelves  to  Inp- 
poit  the  government. 

7^o  pifc\  ent  thefe  evafions,  an  aft  was  pafTed  to  en- 
force the  embargo.  This  was  ncceffarily  more  ftiict 
and  fevere  in  it>  provifions  than  the  original  aft.--- 
Mcetings  were  held  in  various  pails  of  the  United  States, 
denouncing  the  latter  as  opprcflive  and  unconfhtution- 
al.  A  verv  numerous  and  refpeiiible  one  was  held  in 
t'.ie  city  of  Piiiladelphia,  attended  bv  a  large  proportion 
oi  t'lc  merchants,  and  a  gicit  number  of  other  citizens. 


or  t! 


us    ineetmg   comnuj'iore    Iruxton    was    cliairman 


SiindiN'  rcfolutions  wc*e  palled,  wliich  embraced  the  cf- 
ieiice  of  all  tlic  o!)iecl,ioiis  raifed  atrainfl  it  t'lrouirhout 
ilie  union.  I  fhall  airumc  t'lcfe  itTolutions  a<;  a  text 
t)  reafon  upon,    and  fhali  endeavour  to  refute  the  ob- 


.•a 


ions. 


Dijring  the  aihniniftratlon  of    General   Wd{li!rigton, 
an  embargo  aft  had  been  pafTed  by  Congref's.     An.l  dur- 


ui 


g  his  adminiflratlon  and  tliat  oi  Mr.  Adams,  various 
otiier  afts  had  been  pafTed  embracing  ])rohibitorv  and 
penal   clauies  of 


a  tenor  fimilar  to  tlio 


fo  of 


the  embar- 


more  cxcen- 


0  law.  Some  of  their  claufes  were  far 
t:()nahle  than  tliofe  of  Mr.  JefFerfbn's  etnbargo  aft.~ 
No  tederalift  will  pretend  that  any  of  tliole  afts  were 
Uiiconflituiional.  If  theretoie  Mr.  Jefferfon's  aft  con- 
tims  no  provifion  whatever,  which  is  not  fubnantialiv  to 
be  f(j'ind  in  thofe  paflod  during  the  adminiffration  of  the 
tA'u  fii  fl  prefidents,  I  prefume  fliat  there  is  not  a  candid 
iederalift  in  the  union  wlio  will  licfitate  to  admit  that  the 
cli'iK)!n- again  ft  the  former,  as  unconflitutional,  was  tru- 


faft 


U)US. 


Th-^  9th,    10th  and  nth  feftion"?  were  the  moff  rigor- 
is,  the  mofl  obn  -vious,    and  of  courfc  were  felefted 


11* 


1:25 


iiic:  oi.ivt;  HRANcir. 


at  tlie  Philadelphia  mcctinq;,  as  fit  fiihjefls  for  denuncia- 
tion.     I   Ihall   therc'torc  taiily  collate  thcni  with  the  cor- 
respondii?^"  fetlions  ot  the  tornier  einb;irgo  and  other  afts 
palled  dm  in,<r  the  reign  ot   iederalifm,  to  enable  the  read 
cr  to  tonn  his   opinion  : 

Vi'oceedinjrs  of  PhiUulclnhia  ^Meetinz'i  Cummodure  Tvux 

tuji  in  the  Cluiir. 


4( 
«t 

ii 

<  t 


(( 
i( 

a 
i  c 

a 


'*  Rdfclved,  that  v/o  confider  the  late  a6l  of  con. 
grels,  commonly  called,  "  The  enforcing  law,"  to 
be  a  dircrt  invafion  of  the  eftablilhed  principles  ol 
civil  liberty,  and  of  the  exprefs  provifions  of  the 
conifitntion  ;  as  arbitrary  and  fevere  to  a  degree  nnric- 
celF-irv,  even  to  accomplilli  the  ohj  ris  tor  which  the 
law  is  proteiled  to  have  been  en.W^fed  ;  as  creating 
an  e*  ormous  and  dangerous  augmentation  of  executive 
intlnence  and  power  ;  and  as  lumecedarily  expofiiig 
the  citizen  to  the  niileries  of  civil  dilcoid  and  mili- 
tary execution. 

"  Resolved,  that  the  9th  fection  of  this  aft,  which 
authorizes  a  minillerial  officer,  without  procefs  of 
laiv,  to  feize  goods  at  his  dilcretion,  under  a  pre- 
tence that  he  believes  thev  are  intended  for  exporta- 
tion, or  apparently  on  the  way  to  the  territories  of 
a  foreign  power,  is,  in  our  opinion,  a  breach  ot  the 
fourth  article  of  the  amendments  to  the  conftitu- 
tion,  which  provides,  "  that  the  right  of  the  people 
to  be  fecure  in  their  perfons,  houfes,  papers  and  eF- 
tetls,  again ff  unreafonahle  fearches  and  feizures, 
Ihall  not  be  violated  :"  and  of  the  ^^th  article  of  the 
amendments,  which  declares,  "  that  no  man  fliall  be 
deprived  of  lite,  liberty  or  property,  but  by  due  pio- 
ceis  of  law." 


til 


"  ENFORCING  LAW,"  PRECEDENTS 

Signed  by  Jefficuson.  Signed  by  Washington  and  Adams. 

1.    'That   the  rollec-  1.  'That  every  coMector,  navaJ  officer 

'tors  of  all  the  districts  '  a«d  surveyor,    or  other  person  especiallj 


t^AS^iSahi-iSii?''  -  ^-■'^k 


rUK    OLIVIi    IIUANCU. 


127 


[ree  unric- 


>  of  ll«e  U.  Stales,  Bhall 
ami  Micy  ;»ie  luTvby  m- 
ihonzfti  «<»  take  into 
■  heir  custody  spn-H*,  or 
any  arliclf*  »f  duinPR- 
tic  v(»'0*'l>»  P'M'ln'  t  or 
ni'iunf if'uro,  f'uuud  on 
bnnrd  if  any  ship  or 
velvet  fto'tt  or  other 
wa(er  ctiift,  wlifii  tilde 
ii  reason  lohelieie  lli;it 
ihty  are  intended  for 
tX|>oi  t.ilioii  : 
2.  '  Or  wlu'ii  ill  ves- 
sels, curls,  wangniis, 
sleiuhii,  or  any  oilier 
carriine  ;  or  in  anif 
manner  apparenll/f  on 
their  10(11/  towards  the 
tcrriltu  y  of  a  for(>it;ii 
n.itioii,  or  the  vicinity 
tliPKMif,  or  tovviirtis  a 
plan'  \vlu're  siicii  arti- 
cles are  iiitnuleii  to  be 
txporlrd  : 

3  '  Ami  not  to  pei 
mit  surh  iiitirles  to  be 
remove  J  until  boail 
with  snfMt  ient  sureties 
shall  have  been  jfiveu 
for  the  lan<ling.  or  the 
delivery  of  th«"  same  in 
some  place  of  the  Unit- 
ed Slates,  *herc,  in 
the  opinion  of  the  col- 
lector, there  shall  not 
be  any  dans;er  of  such 
articles  being:  export- 
ed'—.Laws     U     States, 

vol     IX.   page  \'j^2,  Sect. 

0,  of  I  be  ict   to  enforce 

the  embargo. 


'  appointed  by  either  of  them  for  that  pur- 
'  \n»>i  .  sbdil  li.tvf  full  (loAir  and  anilionly 

*  to(«,'er  any  ship  or  vesiel,  in  «hi' b  they 
'  sbai! /(are  teaion  'h  RU>PKCT  any  yo-alB, 
'  waies  or  inercbaniliz>  subject  to  duty 
'  shall  be  <  oitn  attd,  and  ibriein  to  search 
'  for,   Kcize    am!   seeni«'    any    such    ijiods, 

*  wares  and  inereba'ndize,  6^^'. — St  e  ael  ot' 
3lstJnl>.  l/sin,  sect  24  A(lof4lhAu- 
jjust,    17f>i.  seel    4S. 

'   I'liat  It  shall  be  the  duly  of  the  several 

*  olKcrrs  of  the  cuRtonis  to  make  seizure  of 
'  aHil  secure  any  ship  oi  ve!iSiel,t;(Midi), wares 
'  or    merchandize   nhirh  shall  be  ii  tbit  to 

*  FCiZUie  by  virtue  of  ibis  aci,  ««  welt  with' 

*  out,  a<  wi'hm  their  respective  e//.«/r'c7«.'— 
See  seel  2(i  and  5(»  of  the  same  aei— ^eg 
also,  act  of  the  siil  .March,  1/99,  sect.  Ga. 
70 

*  That   i(  shall   be  lawful  fur  any  ofHccr 

*  of  the  revenue,   to   go    on    board   <it    my 

*  ship  or  vessel,  wbeiher  she  shall  be  with- 
'  in,  or  without  bis  dislrirt,  and  (he  same 

*  to  inspect,  sear*  li  and  examine,  al^^  if  it 
•shall  appear,  that  an>  breac  h  of  the  laws 
'  of  the  United  States,  hati  been  coininitled 
'  &c.  to  make  seizure  of  ibe  same.'— See 
act  of  istli  rebru'try     179:)    sect    -27. 

'  That  any  of  the  afonvsaid  arlir'es  (arms 
and  ammunition)  exeepliu;!  such  of  them 
as  may  constitute  i  part  of  (be  equipTuent 
of  any  ve.^sel,  which,  during  the  citnlinw 
ante  of  this  prohibition,  shall  be  fniinil  on 
board  of  any  vessel  in  any  rivet,  port, 
Ixiy,  or  barlior,  within  the  territoiy  of 
the  United  Slates,  with  an  intent*to  be  e.v 
ported  fioni  the  United  States,  to  any  fo- 
reign country,  shall  be  forfeited,  &c.'— 
See  act  of  J^d  'Way,    1794,   sect    a 

*  That  all  goods,  wares  and  merchandize 

*  brought   into  the  U   States  bt/  land,  con- 

*  trary  to   this  act   shall   be  forfeited,  to- 

*  getber  with  the  carriages,  horses  and  oxen ^ 

*  that  shall  be  employed  in  carrying  the 
•same;   provided  nothing  h«  rein  shall  be 

*  construed    to  extend   to  household  furni- 

*  lure  and  clothing,  beluiigin,!^  to  any  per- 

*  son,  or  persons,  !>rtually  coming  into  any 

*  part  of  the  United  States,  for  the  purpose 

*  of  beoom!»gan  inhabtlaut,or  iuhubitauls 


^i.-.->i,»^j 


12S 


f^ 


IHE    OLIVE    HRANCH. 

*  tlieieof.' — Sec   acl    of  4lh    August,   1750, 

BCl'l,  7(». 

<  Tliiil    it   !>li!ill   be   lawrnl  for   llu>  Firsj. 

*  dent  of  \\n-  I'nited  Si.itcB,  to  ({ive  iiisiiiu 

*  tiuiift  l<>  tl>c  rt>niiiiuii'lri8  of  I  lu-  piih'ii 
'  arnud  h1ii|i8  of  (he  Uiiiu-d  Siiiit-s  10  stop 
'  and  ex.iiiiiiic  utiy  (•liip  01  vessel  of  ilic 
'  United    Si  It's   011    llie     liii>h    st  :>,     \«lii(|i 

*  /here    tun;/    be    reason   to  stisjiec)    to    he  tn. 

*  pa<!ed    in  any   tiatiir  or   comitx  )Ci  riiiilr;i. 

*  I V  to  ilie  tin*  tenor  hrit-of,  &c.'— Act  o! 
9ti»  I'eljruaiy,  1799,  sect.  5. 


K  EM  ARKS. 


On  the  '  Enforcing 


On  the  Precedents. 


"^mx. 


1.  Minifterial  of- 
ficers are  authoriz- 
ed lo  ac^  witiiout 
procefs  oF  law. 

2.  Miniilerial  of- 
ficcrs  may  take 
goods  into  tlieir 
cullody  found  on 
board  of  any  fhip 
cr  vefrd. 


3- 


Minlfterial  of- 
ficers, without  pro- 
cefs,  may  feize 
goods  on  board  ot 
iiny  velFel,  n-hcn 
there  is  reafon  to 
believe,  tliat  they 
are  irdended  for  ex- 


1.    Miniftcrial    officers    arc 
tliorized    to    a6l     without    prccc! 
oi    law. 


2.  Minifteiial  officers,  o 
other  per  Jons  jpeciallx  appo-'nlea 
h\  them,  may  enter  rtiiy  Ihij)  or  vtl- 
fel  and  the  goods  on  boi'id,  a 
well  without,  as  intlnn  their  re. 
fpedwe  cbjlnd.i  :  and  command. 
crs  of  public  veflels  n)av  Icize 
fliips  on  the  high  feas,  bound  or 
failing  towards  <)ny  interdiftiJ 
French  port,  there  being  icalun 
to  fufpe6l  an  illicit  traffic. 

3.  Miniftcrial  officers,  or  anj 
per /on  appointed  by  them,  may 
enter  any  vcfiel,  in  which  tiicy 
have  reafon  to  fujpeB  goods  fiib- 
j  '£1  to  duty  are  concealed,  &c. 
And  if  it  (hall  appear  to  them, 
that  any  breach  of  the  laws  is 
committed  ;  or    (in    the    cafe    oi 


THE    OLIVQ  BRANt'U. 


±^^ 


portation. 


4.  Miniflcrial  of- 
ficers without  pro- 
cefs  may  detain 
goods  apparently 
on  their  way  to  be 
cxpoited,  till  fecu- 
rily  is  given,  that 
they  dial  I  not  be 
exported. 

5.  The  power  of 
foizLire  is  confined 
to  goods,  &c.  toLuid 
on  board  of  vefTels, 
or  apparently  on 
ikeir  zvay  to  be  ex- 
ported. There  is 
no  po'vcr  olvcn  to 
ariv  iTunidcvial  of- 
ficer to  critcr  uiiy 
lioafc  without  pro- 
ccfs. 

'      Commodore 


arms  and  ammunition)  that  there 
was  an  intent  to  export,  they  may 
make  feizurcs. 

4.  Minifleiial  officers  without 
procefs  may  fei7"  goods  apparent- 
ly on  their  .vuy  to  be  imported 
by  land ;  and  veflcis  apparently 
on  their  way  towards  a  Fiencli 
port,  may  be  feized  by  military 
officers. 


5.  The  feizure  is  extended  to 
goods,  &c.  found  on  board  of  vef- 
fels,  or  apparently  on  their  way 
to  be  iinpoited  by  land,  and  to 
vcfTels  on  the  hijrh  feas.  There 
is  no  power  jriven  to  a  municipal 
oHirer  to  enter  houfes  wiliiout 
}>rocofs. 


Trujcton*s  third  ResoliUion. 


'' Re.iolvt'.'I,  That  the  tenth  fection  is  contrary  to  the 
•' fpirit  of  the  conll;tution,  iuaOnuch  as  it  veils  in  the 
•'  prefident  a  Icgiilativc  autliority  by  giving  to  his  inllruc- 
"tions,  in  certain  cafes,  the  foice  of  law." 


"ENFOUCING  LAW." 

'The  poiverx  given  to 
'the  I  oil(  (lois,  eiiUtr 
'  Ijy  this  or  auy  oUht 
'  a<  t,  i«s|ipclii)u  I  lie  tm 
'  !>ii!ro,  to  r«'f»is»*  j>rr- 
'luissioii  lo  put  any  (ar- 
'uo  on  l>o;u<l  any  vpswri, 
Mioiit    or    ollitf      waltr 


PRECKDENTS,  &o. 

Under  lV'is/iiu>jlin  anil  /Idami. 
•Thill  tlif  PifSHlciit  »>fti»e  I'l.ittd  States 
*  lip,  jiiiil  !n'  hercfiv  ir  uuiliorist-tt  Hiid  <iii. 
'  pwiveieil,  wheveifr  m  his  opinion  ihe  puf.Uc 
'  mfety  shall  sa  require,  TO  LAY  A\  EM  15  \  U- 
'  Go  on  iili  ships  and  ve>s(-isi  111  the  potis  of 
'ih*  Unit)  li  Stiites,  or  the  ships  xmi  «rs- 
'stiii  of  any  t'i)ieii>;ti  >ituion,  vndei  sucU 
^regulations  as  tin:  circuimiances  of  the  cqse 


»—  v,»,.«»  ,..--<  -:-*-- 


130 


THE    OLIVE  BUAVOU. 


? 


*  (TMfl,  to  (liliiiii  any  '  nuiy  require,  audio  contiiiuc  or  rovitkctliy 
'  vi'HNil,   oi    Id  lake    into  '  »iiiiit ,    uliencvci    he  sliiill    lliinL    i>iii|,(i' 

*  (hen  cuHlody  uny  ur-  '  A  N  u  TilK  PiitHi  UKNT  Is  HKULHY  i' i  i.i.y 
*Ji(le(i  I'oi  the  |»ui  pose  '  A  1 1  HoiiiM'.l)  i»  t;ivK  Ai.L  situ  on. 
'o(  preventing;  violjtionM  *  ui  lis  lo  tmk  ukfk  Kiis  or  THE  tMit:) 

*  of    llie     Ciull<iii>0,     liltctU  '  STMKS    \3  MAY   UK   NKlEsSARY  TuCVK- 

*  be  exercised  in  conform  '  RY  TIIK  SAMf.  INTO  mi.L  tFtEci.*-. 
*itif    Willi      such      lustiuc    See   irl  of  4lh  June  I7!)4,  hccIioo  J. 

* /ions,  Of  l/te  Pivtuknt  ' '1  lial  an  einOargo  oe  luul  on  all  ^\\\ni 
*may  give,  uud  such  f^'en-  ♦  ami   vessels  in    llie   poits  ot  tlie   Linud 

*  erat  mil-'  as  he  iiiai/  pre-  *.SlaleH,  uhelhcr  alremly  cleirctl  oiii  or 
' srri/)*-  fi.,r  that  purpos-e,  '  nol,  hunml  lo  any  loreign  pott  or  pi.m, 
*M\l)i  IN  rmisL)  A  Nt'io  *  exeept  ships  or  vesseU  under  the  intiiie- 
'or  TIIK  I'OWKHS  A-  •tlutte  directions  of  Ihe  piesnleni  o(  ihe 
'lOiiKSAlo;  whicii  in-  ♦  Unilcd  Slates  Andthattiie  pkKsi- 
'slriieiioiiR    and    ^eneial  '  Di>  NT  of  TIIK   t'NITKO  STAThs   uk   al'- 

*  rules,  Ihe  collrelois  *  TIIOUI^'ICIJ  to  CiiVfc  stcil  I  NsTRt'tTloNs 
'shall  he  bound  lo  obey." 'TO  THE  rcvknue  officers  of  ihe 
—Men),  Section  10.  'united  states,   >s    siiali,    appm.i 

'BKST     adapted     for    carry  in  (i     TIIK 

*  SAID  RKSOI-UTION  INTO  FULL  EFFKCT,' 
—  Hesolve  of  'Jtjlh  Maieli,  1792. 

'  Ihal  I  he  piesident  of  tiie  United  St  lies 

*  be,  and  he  is  hereby  authorized,  to  dufct 
'  tiie  levcnue   officers,    and   the  q^iccrs  om- 

*  //tandiTig  Juris  and  revenue  cutters  Id  aid  in 
'  iheexeeution  o\  the  health  laws  of  the  sin)  es^ 
'  lespcctively  in  such  manner  as  may  to  liim 
'appear  necessary  '— Ae«  of 'i7lb  May,  I7()(), 

'  1  but  It  stiall  be  lawful  for  the  piisuiiut 
'  of  the  United  States,  if  be  siiall  deem  it 
•exjicdienl  and  eonsislrnt  with  the  iiiten  st 

*  of  the  Lulled  States,  Ijy  his  order,  lo  rf  nut 

*  and  dist'ontinue,  for  (he  time  bein^,  the 

*  restraints  and  prohibitions  afoivsaid,  ei- 
'  tbcr  with  respect  lo  the  Freneh  llepnlihf, 
'or  to  any  island,  &,c     with   uhichaeom- 

*  mercial  intercourse  may  he  safely  renew- 
'  ed  ;  and  a\^iy,torcLo/ce  such  orders,  m  hcii- 
'ever,  in  his  opinion,  the  interest  of  llie 
'  United  Stales  sir.ill  require. — Act  ol  Q'h 
'  February,  1790, serl  4. 

♦That  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  prcsi- 
'  dent  of  the  Uiiiled  Slates  at  any  lime 
'  durinp;  the  continuance  of  this  ait  lo  oi- 

*  der  a\\  such  M'wns,  as  he  shall  judge  daii- 

*  gero  18  to  the    peace  and  Bafely    of   liie 

*  United  Slates,  or  shall  have  reasonahk 
'ground  to  suspect,  as  concerned  in  any 
♦treasonable  or  secret  ina(hinations  against 
♦llie government  thereof,  to  depart  out  ol 


^s^ 


IME   OMVK  DRANCH. 


l.U 


'  Ihc  tt  I'Mtory  of  (he  Viiiled  Slatro,  wiihiii 
*  sucli  times  us  sli:ill  ■  c  cxpri'iscil  in  •iiicli 
'  onl(  r.     Act  of  .lime-  .'."•,   1708,  sict.  I. 

'  AikI  till  iiiHi'sliiiis  anil  DtlKi-  oflicei  s  of 
'  lliH  Unite<!  Sintes,  Hre  ruimiTd  lo  v\e» 
'  ciiti  iiil  |iriTi  pts  iitiil  oi'di  rs  nC  ihe  p  t-»i. 
'  (l«Mit  of  the  United  SdUcs,  issiifil  in  imi'- 
'  sn;\iKu  or  i)y  virliic  of  tliis  HCt.'  Mcin, 
sect   4. 


On  •  The  KnfuYchig 
Law,* 


IlliMAIIKS. 


On  the  Precedent  ft. 


e  ql'ivcrs  emu- 


lie  liciiifr,   the 


1,    Tlieic      is    no 
''.li/l.if.vd  power 

ijivori  to  tlie  Picfi- 
■  Iciit.  The  coiidl- 
tatiun  clc'claics  that 
he  Hiall  fee 
lau's  faithfully 
cciite-'l. — His 
(liuclioris  are 
lie  given  in  or  Icr 
to  execute  the  la^v, 
not  lo  ma^!'j  it  ;  and 
the  inflriictions 

mnft  be  in  purfu- 
ance  ot  ihe  powers 
exprefslv  granted 
to  the  collcftors  by 
the  law. 


the 

cx- 

in- 

to 


1,  The  piefid^nt  is  empowered 
to  l(i\\  and  to  revoke  enilhiro^oes. 
His  ilifcidion  in  cftablilliiucr  re- 
gulations, isonlv  bniitcd  "  to  fuch 
ai  the    crcum/funces    of    the  cafe 


ma\  rcq^nre 


while    his   orders 


mi(Tht  be  dire6^ed  t),  and  mud 
be  obe\ed  by,  all  officers  o\  the 
United  St.utes  rix<il  and  rmlUarw 
he  being  eonftituted  the  fole  judge 
ot  what  orders  were  necefFarv,  to 
carry  an  embargo  into  efTcWd  ! 

2.  The  prefident's  in/rruclions 
to  militaiv  and  civil  offuers,  arc, 
alfo  abfolute,  witjiout  any  limi- 
tation by  law,  or  any  ufe  of  civil 
prncefs,  to  aid  in  execution  ot" 
State  Unallh  Laws  ;  to  cntorce 
tJte  non-mtercourfe  Larus  again  ft 
France  ;  and  to  expel  aliens  troiii 
the  country. 


Commodore  TriLvton's  fourth  Reaolution, 

"  Rrfohed,  That  the  elevenlb  re6lion  of  tbe  afl 
violates  a  political  and  civil  right,  more  facred  than 
at>y  conftitution,    in    authorizing    the    military  to  fire 


—  *  ••"# 


13-J 


'ill£    OLIVE   BnA>-(Ii. 


upon  the  people,  witlunit  \\\p  (an^lion  or  interpofition 
o\  the  civil  authoiitv.  The  princlpk*  contained  in 
this  fc-r^ion,  it  much  turtlu-r  extended,  might,  with  com. 
petent  lorce,  convert  our  government  into  an  abroliuc 
dclpotilm." 


>     (|»  / 


>  > 


'i' 


'  t 


'  EXFORCIXG    LAW.' 


«  It  shnll  be  lawful  for 
till'  prcslili'iU  of  the 
raited  ^titti'3,  or  ntich 
(ithcv  person  an  he  sfiull 
have  empo-wereil J'ov  that 
jnivpase,  to  employ  such 
pint  of  tlie  IhikI  or  na- 
val forces,  or  militia 
of  ilio  UiiitL'd  Slides, 
or  of  ll»e  ttrrJK  ries 
tlicreo.,  «5  muu  be 
jiidcffti  iieceftsi'ji/,  in 
coiifoiMuity  Willi  tlie 
pioxMons  of  this,  hikI 
o'.lii-r  nets  rvaiJi-rtinij; 
llic  fuili.ii  }j;o,  for  tlif 
purpose  of  ftrrictmng 
the  iilegdl  (li'fi'iitir  n  i,f 
tnni  nhiji  or  \<  ssil,  '  r  of 
detii.niinf  t  ah-' 'iff  fioa- 
xessioit  of  anif  ki-f;pni:r 
in  custodti  and  ^int'd- 
itir  i'liN   spirit  or  ioii- 

rle  of  (!omestir  i!;ro\v'li, 
produce,  or  iitmrnfHr- 
tnrc,  iiiul  also,  f'l  t(i< 
piirpose  of  f><-p'-'iiitinff 
anil  snpp^fiHSiii^  cniy 
iinneil  oi-  riotous  'ifiacm- 
blage  of  persn  s  resist- 
/tip  the  Cvsiitvi  //-jvse 
Offictrs,  in  thr  exenise 
of  their  duties,  or  iii 
any  manner  n|>po8iiip; 
the  execution  of  tlie 
laws  Inyii  jj;  an  enihar- 
Ro,  i>i  otiu  iwisp  V  olut- 
tug,  or  assisfnc;  uud 
abettitiff     violations    of 


PKKCRDKNTS, 

I'lidcr  IVanhintfton  iimt  ^Idatva. 
Id  tv.rj  I'iise  Hiisiiif;'    niMJer  lliis  in  t,  '  i' 

*  kIiiiU  lie  lawful  for  Hie  I'ri'sidcul  of  tho 
'  liiiU'd   Stales  or  such  other  pemon  an  Im 

*  shall  have  empowered  for  that  pw pone,  to 
•employ  sui  li  piut  ol  the  land  or  n  vid 
'  forces  of  tlie  United  Slates    or  ot  the  nii- 

*  litia  thereof,  as  shall  be  judged  necrsarv 

*  for  the  purpose  ol  taking  possession  rfmd 

*  de  iiining  any  smh  ship,    or  ves*i  I,   with 

*  111  I-  priz  ,  or  jirizes,  if  any,  in  order  to 
'  the  exi  cution  of  the  proliihitions  uud  ptii- 

*  allies  of  this  act,  and  to  tli  restoring  of 
'  such  prize  or  pr>zes,  in  the  cases  in  wlnuli 
'restoration  shall  ha^e  been  a  juili^  t|  ; 
'  ami  also,  for  the  pui  pose  of /'^eW7/^/i^'  the 
'  carri/.ng  m  of  ainisvc     expedition  or  en- 

*  trrf)i-/ye  from  the  imilories  of  th.  LmJIciI 
'  •'tiita    against   (he   teriiiories    or  tlonnn- 

*  ors  fa  (or(i};;ii  iirmce,  or  at  te,  with 
'  whom  the  Unit  d  Maii'^  art  at  peace.'— 
Act  of  till'  Stli  June,     "94,  sect.  7. 

'  'lliai  win  lu  ver  the   laws   ot  th'    Unit'  (1 

*  Sljites  sli  11  he  oi'posed,  or  the  •  xi  i-mmn 
'  thf-ri  of  ohstruc'eo    in  aii}    bl  ile,  fj  tom- 

*  hm  tioiis  too  poweriul^o  i  suppitsscd 
'  by    tti»;    ordinary    course  of    jiitlieiiil    pro- 

*  ceedin^s,  or    bv  t!  e    powers  vtsud   in  the 

*  marshd  l>>  this  art,  Ltdo  same  powers  iii 
t'Xieutinsr  the  laws  ol  the  United  Stairs 
as  s'crifl'M  possess  for  execuiinji;  the  slate 
laws]  it  sIinI'.  be  lawful  for  ihe  President 
of  the  United  States  to  call  forth  ihi  mi- 
litia of  such  state,  or  of  anv  other  siitc, 

'  or  states,  as  ma>  be  iiee<  'isary,  to  buppiess 
'  such  combii  aiions,  and  to  cause  tl  c  I  W8 
'  to  be  duly  execute'!,  &c.' — Act  of  the 
i24th    ^..'..\.   I   U'2. 

'  I'rovi  ied     that    w  bciicvei     it    may     bf 
'  iif.  cbsaiy,    in  tin  ju(!_niin.i.t  of  the   Presi- 

*  dent,  to  use  the  militarj  force  hereby  di 


V  .1 


**).. 


•HIE  OLIVE   niiANrii. 


iJJ 


ibe  name.'— Itlnu,  Sec-    *  rortcd  to  lie  rnllcd  foiili,  11«p  Pirnilriit 
,,y„lj.  <  Rliitll    forlliwitli,  l»y   prorlamiitioii,  <oin- 

*  miiiiii  •nth  iii!4iii ){*'>> I**  <c  (li^priHr,  uiitl 
'rttiii'  |nuii'.«l»ly  lo  llifii  nn|J»rli«i'  u. 
<  builiK,  Hitliiii  a  liiiiitcdtinic.'— 76i(/,Ji'crj. 


/   I 


UHMAUKS. 


Oh  *  The  Enforcing 
Law.'' 

1.  In    the   •  Rn- 

forcing  Law,  there 
is  an  authority 
given  to  call  out 
fuch  part  of  the 
military,  as  is  jutl^- 
ccl  nccefTary  to  ex- 
ecute the  law  ;  hut 
it  Is  not  true,  that 
the  military  are 
authorifed  cxprefs- 
ly,  or  by  reafon- 
abie  implication,  to 
fire  upon  the  people, 
without  tne  fanc- 
tion  or  interpofition 
ot  the  civil  autiiori- 
ty.  No  fuch  lan- 
guage or  meaning 
can  be  traced  in 
the  law. 

2.  The  terms  ot 
the  "  Enforcing 
law''  authorizing  a 
call  upon  the  mili- 
tary, are  evidently 
predicated  upon 
the  afcertalried  in- 
competency  of    the 

1^^ 


Oh  the  Precedents, 


1.  In  the  art  of  the  5th  of  June, 
1794«  ^be  hunt;  proviliori  is  nude 
for  calling  out  the  military  to  aid 
in  the  execution  ol  the  law  with- 
out any  reference  to  the  fanrtion, 
or  interpofition  ot  the  civil  au^ 
thority. 


^  •" 


2.  During  the  refpeftlve  admi- 
nlflrations  ot  IVapiington  and 
ArJams,  the  military  were^  oltoii 
called  out  without  the  exprofs 
fanftion  or  interpofition  of  the 
civil  authority,  to  aid  in  the  exe- 
cution of  the  laws.  The  inllaiices 
will  occur  to  every  man,  who  rc- 


l'  mi 


I 


h 


ISA 


THE    OLIVE    BRANCH. 


,  ,"ij 


•.''I 


t^ 


\IV 


civil  power  to  exe- 
cute the  law ;  tor, 
the  call  must  be 
judged  necelfary  to 
efifetl  the  fpecific 
purpofcs  ol  the  law  : 
but  it  the  cuftonri- 
houfe  oflicers  can 
execute  the  law, 
with  the  aid  ot"  the 
civil  procefs,  it 
never  could  be  judg- 
ed r.eceflary  to  call 
out  the  military. 

3.  The  *  Entorc- 
ing  law*  does  not 
require  a  proclama- 
tion. 


members  the  fccnes   of  1793  ''"^ 
1798. 


3.  The  aQ  of  the  28th  of  Fc- 
bruary,  1795,  requires  a  proclama- 
tion ;  but  it  is  by  way  of  admoiil- 
tion  to  the  people  ;  and  neither 
fufpcnds  the  call,  nor  the  employ- 
ment, of  the  military.  Such  was 
the  conftruftion  of  Prefident 
WaPiinirton  under  the  previous 
law,  ot  a  fimilar  import,  pafTed 
in  1792.* 


To  the  candour  of  the  reader  I  freely  appeal.  Let 
him  carefully  compare  thefe  various  fetlions  to- 
gether. Let  him  more  particularly  obferve,  that  by 
the  aft  of  June  4,  1794,  congrefs  aftually  veiled  the 
prefident  with  the  power  of  LAYING  AN  EMBAR- 
GO, *'  whenever  in  Ins  opinion  the  public  safety  Jliouli 
require  it ;"  which  was,  fo  far  as  refpefts  this  impor- 
tant branch  of  legiflation,  an  adual  furrender  of  tk 
legi/lative  power  into  the  hands  of  the  executive  ma- 
gijirate — and    that  they  likcwife  gave  him  the   power 

•  The  comparison  of,  and  llie  remarks  upon,  these  acts,  are  taken 
from  a  pamphlet,  publishetl  in  Philadelphia,  in  1809,  and  entitled  "  The 
Constitntionnlity  of  the  Rmbar^o  laws,  established  by  precedent"— 3' 
iurainous  aad  unanswerable  nn  essay  as  ever  published. 


THE    OLIVE    BRANCH. 


135 


■•of/pvinp^  fuck  orders  as  inight  be  necffary  to  carry 
viloejftd,''  the  law  which  he  had,  of  hn  own  mere  ino- 
twn,  the  "  legi/latwe  power''  to  enatl. — When  lu'  has  duly 
pondered  on  thefc  thinp;s- — and  fully  alcertaincd  that  Mr. 
JclTcrfon's  embargo  acl  in  no  in  (lance  exceeded,  and  in 
mHiiv  tell  far  fhort  of,  the  former  ones — will  he  not  he 
loll  in  amazement,  how  it  was  pofiible  fo  to  work  upon 
the  public  paflions,  refpetling  this  neceirai y  mealurc,  as 
toadually  endanger  the  permanence  o\  the  union  ?  lor  it 
is  an  indubitable  S.d.h\  that  infurreBion  and  rebellion  were 
threatened — and  it  has  been  repeatedly  ailcrted  and  confi- 
dently believed,  that  the  eleventh  congrefs,  through  a])- 
prehenfion  of  that  illuc  alone,  repealed  the  en^.bargr)  a(:l. 
I  ought  not  to  omit  that  the  Icgiilature  of  Mafrachiiletts 
a^liially  pafled  an  afl  making  a  compliance  with  fome  of 
the  provifions  of  the  embarg(3  law  criminal,  wvA  attaching 


to  It  certam  penalties. 


It 


IS  ou 


t  of 


m 


v  power  to  prociue 


the  atl,  or  to  ftate  its  details.     Bat  of  its  exi fiance  there 
is  not  the  fhadow  ot  a  doubt. 

I  annex  a  lew  fpecimcns  oi  the  ftile  and  fubflancc  of 
the  relolutions  and  legiflatlve  remarks  upon  the  embargo, 
—in  order  to  fatisly  the  readei  that  I  have  not  exagcrcrated 
the  phrenzy  of  the  public  mind. 


1^' 


I'W 

b^Vn 

'9 

^'iptj 

^^^Ht' 

i*''-)^!!!  'flU 

\[  ;  f  (H 

mm 

'^  T  In 

jJiM 

'  f^^m 

^m  '' 

'fwm. 

l''".|B    \! 

(.^.Mffl 

Extract  from  the  resnlnfions  of  the  town  of  Gloucester, 
Januari/  i2th,  1809. 

••Resolved,  that  we  will  mutually  wwtcli  and  protect  what  liule  pro- 
perty we  have  still  left — that  we  will  use  nil  latvfnl  i\HyM.s  '  touritsi  <lis- 
Uiibers  Hiid  hreakcrs  of  th<'  peace  or  such  others  as  may,  Cumkr  pre- 
tence nf  authority  from  government  J  jjo  armed  :.y  uiii;ht,'  or  uiier  any 
mt.iHCes,  or  threate  ling  speeches  to  »h.  fear  and  (error  of  tin-  f»  toil 
people  ot  this  tow  j  and  that  we  will  ever  hold  in  al)liorri;nce  pinps, 
ai.il  spies,  and  night-walkers,  who  strive  to  fatten  on  the  spoils  of  their 
suffering  fellow -citizens. 

'  Res  Ived,  that  to  our  a. ate  government  we  took  for  council,  protec" 
Hon  und  relief,  at  tlus  aiofu!  period  of  general  Kulumitii" 


^  t 


Extract  from  the  resolutions  of  the  town  of  Bath, 

"  Resolvtfl,  that  we  have  hitherto  borne  with  silence  the  severe  pres- 
sttre  of  thtse  ruinous  laws  [embargo  lawsj — and  although  we  now  deem 


■  / 


■/M 


'■■fi\ 


I 


186 


THE   OLIVE  BRANCH. 


it  our  (lutij  to  sfyeahvith  finnness  and  thn'iaion  our  detestation  of  them 
and  the  fiolicy  ivhich  gavr  rise  to  /hem,  ue  will  still  krep  ilowj  tlie  spj. 
rit  f)f  iivlimiiUioii  ^vhich  swells  witliin  us  at  llic  tixliirauce  of  llitm  and 
will  conduct  toward  the  nalional  {^oveiiimciit  ninl  its  stvc-inl  ofFii'irs  with 
6iiit«bl<'  (Itference  «ii(l  ni(Kl(.r:ition  ;  that  wc  do  liowiver  ilespMif  mI  ob. 
tainiiig  any  redrt'ss  nl"  tin  se  trrirvaiiius,  from  that  RovennicnJ,  while 
its  principstl  officer  are  fillid  ms  sit  prt-sont  ;  and  llint  our  oidj  Lopr  is 
lluu  the  stale  government,  hv  ttit  ir  iciihmi  tnuu-.i  s  mid  it-solutions,  nmy 
have  more  influL'tice  n  effecting  this  objtct,  than  ihi^  pi  tilions  and  me- 
inori:ds  of  indiviilusds  and  towns 

"Resolved,  therefore,  i\YA\.  -a  respectful  address  be  forwardt'  in  die 
name  ot  the  i)eople  of  litis  tow.  to  the  Icgishiture  ot  this  tonimon- 
wealth,  stating  to  them  thewron.sm  grit  nances  we  alrea<  \  MiliVr, 
and  the  t'esu  tid  iippiehcnsions  we  cxptritnce  of  speedily  havini;  oiircii- 
lainitj  increased  by  the  addition  ot  still  more  restrictive  an<l  arliirarv 
laws;  expressing  ti»  them  our  approbation  ot  the  incasures  they  have 
already  adoptit!  upon  th's  important  object,  and  requesting  them  to  t^ke 
such  (illiiir  inniiedinti;  stcjis  for  relieving  the  people,  either  by  tlirm- 
»';l\<'3  alone,  or  in  csiice' t  with  oth  r  cofninercui/  s.'u'^e.T,  as  the  extra- 
ordinary circumstances  of  our  situation  viai/  require.  ' 


i:»l 


Extract  from  the  memorial  of  the  town  nf  Boston  to  the 
legislature  of  Massachusetts. 


'•  Tl.c  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Boston,  in  town  meeting  assembled, 
rispertfiilly  represent — That  they  aie  constrained  to  apply  to  your 
honouratjle  body,  as  the  immediate  guardians  of  their  rights  and  liber- 
ties, for  your  i«rer/>os, /ion  to  procue  for  them  relief  \vom  iha  grin- 
finces  which  they  now  fnijf'e)-  under  the  operation  of  the  laws  of  the 
general  government,  abolibidng  foreign  commerce,  and  subjecting  the 
coasting  trade  to  embarrassments  hicli  threaten  its  a  nihilation.  Our 
hope  and  consolation  rest  with  the  legislature  of  our  state,  to  uphom  it  is 
competent  to  devise  metma  of  reltef  asfi.mst  the  unconstitutional  mea- 
naves  of  t  e  general  ^over  ment :  th:it  your  power  i  adtquat;  to  this 
•bject  ia  evident  from  the.  organization  of  the  confederacy.       1809. 


Extract  from   the  proceedings   of  the  town   of   Tops- 
field. 


*'  Resolved,  That  sucJi  has  been  our  suffering,  and  so  great  is  our 
alarm  occasioned  by  the  extraordinary  measures  lately  adopted  tli.it 
we  sliail  never  be  contented  until  we  are  seemed  from  a  repetition  oi 
the  same  evili  That  a  bare  repeal  of  the  obnoxious  acts  ought  'ot, 
thcrel'ore,  lo  satisfy  a  free  and  prudent  people,  any  more  than  there- 
peal  of  tlio  IJritish  stamp  act  sdenced  tho  patriots  of  that  day— tliU 
tliere  ought  to  be  a  solemn  renuuciatiou  of  the  right  thus  assumed; 


tl 


THE    OLIVE   BRANCH. 


13: 


tioH  of  them 
ilowi  tlie  spi- 
of  llitin,  ami 
I  ofTici  i-s  witli 
esiiaii'  mI  ob. 
)U:eiit,  «liile 
only  l.n|,r  is 
olufions,  niiiy 
lions  HinI  me- 

war<ltv'  ill  ilie 
Ills  toiiimon- 
licH'}  MitiVr, 
laxint;  oiiriii- 
and  ai'liiiiiiiy 
•es  they  lia\c 
them  to  t:ike 
ic'f  l>y  tliMTi- 
as  the  extra- 


)ston  to  tk 


ig  assembled, 
iply  to  your 
Us  an<l  liber- 
m  lliL"  ^vkr- 

laws  ot"  the 
jitjecting  tbe 

lation.  Our 
to  tohom  it  is 
utionui  mea- 

Uiiii  to  this 
1809. 


3^ 


)ur,(l  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Hssemhiy  thai  legal  and  conblitutional  mea- 
suri.t  should  he  atloptcd  lor  th'it  purpose 

"This  assoMiUly  declare  it  as  their  delihcrate  opinion  tliat  there  ex- 
j,ii,'\0  CAUSE  of  war  «ith  (ireat  Britain  ;  that  such  a  war  WBuld  he 
iiDJiist,  unnecessary,  and  txiremcly  to  he  deplored  ;  thut  the  removal 
1)1'  tiie  cmhnrgo  will  not  neeesssarily  involve  ns  in  war;  hut  shoidd  this 
he  the  alternative,  it  ought  to  be  a  war  with  France  and  not  with  (Jrcat 
Britain 

"Inhabiting  a  part  of  the  union  the  most  engaged  in  foreign  oora. 
Dier  e,  they  think  themselves  qualified  to  «lecide  upon  its  ris^s^nud  the 
nstiire  and  exteiit  of  tlie  injuries  to  which  it  is  exposed  ;  ai  «1  it  isUieir 
firm  belief  that  our  commerce,  unrestrained  by  Self-desli  oying  measures, 
iiiigM  tiiiil  n»any  sources  of  profitable  em|)loy  meiit,  wzVAoK^  intrvferirig 
in  nnij  dcrye  with  those  printiples  of  maritime  latu,  <«  hit  h  IJ  ii  kat 
BniTAiN  deems  essential  to  her  existence,  and  which  in  an  eventful  mo- 
ment Ilk.' the  present  she  will  XEV'KIt  Yir.LD. 

"  \n\  this  assembly  cannot  letVam  from  expressing  tiicir  conviction. 
lint  neither  the  honour  nor  the  permanent  interests  of  the  Uriiictf 
Sites  req'Jire  that  we  should  drive  (>reat  Hritaii),  if  it  were  in  our 
p.itt'.'r,  to  the  surrendry  of  'hose  claims  so  essential  to  her  in  the 
laiglily  conflict  in  which  she  is  at  present  en!;:<ged  ;  a  conflict  interest- 
in,'  \.o  hwmmity,  to  morals,  to  religion,  and  llic  last    iriii^c^le  of  Lbir- 


'!/■ 


1S09. 


Extract  from  a    Circular  Ilundhill  rublished  at  JS'^eiv- 
bari/port. 

"  You  have  repo^  '  -  .nfidence  in  a  cow.\nn  [Jt  fTeison]  and  leaned 
on  n  broken  stfifi"t)0  long. — The  day  of  political  probation  is  fast  v.  rg- 
iii^toa  close — when  the  fate  (f  America  will  be  ilecided,  and  laurels 
boiii^ht  with  the  price  of  freemen's  blood  wiil  grace  the  brows  of  the 
(iallic  tyrant.  Let  every  man  who  holds  the  name  of  Amerita  dear  to 
iiiiii,  stivlrh  out  his  hand',  and  put  this  accursed  thim;,  the  KMIJAKGO, 
fmiii  him.  He  resolute  ;  act  like  sons  of  lihe  ly,  of  GOD  and  of  yoiii* 
I'li'Miiiv — nerve  your  arms  with  VEXGiANci,  ag.tinst  tiie  Ukspot 
wl;,i  would  wrest  the  inestimahle  gerra  of  your  independence  from 
you— and  you  shall  be  conquerors  ! 

"(iiNc  ear  no  longer  to  the  syren  voice  of  democracy  and  Jeffe.rso- 
tiian  libertii  -it  is  a  cursed  delusion,  adoptnl  by  tr;iitors,  and  recom- 
iiiciided  by  svcophanls. 

of    Tops-     H       "Jcflersoii — a   man,    who   with   tlie  VAdRf.n  of  popular    confidence, 
H    first  gave  the  stab  to  your  liberties.'' —  1809. 


1 


fr  |! 


great  is  our 
utopted  tliat 
repetition  oi 
s  ought  ''ot, 
llian  then-- 
It  day— lli"t 
IS  assumed, 


Extract  from  the  proceedings  of  the  town  of  Augusta  in 
J\Iaine,  Jan.  16,  ISOU. 

"T'le  awful  crisis  lias  arrived,    when    it  becomes    necessary  for  the 
;'ic;,d>  of  our   iudcpn  <'  ■'•e,    to  make   a  firm  and    decided    !-tKn«l— 

12* 


I 


M 


138 


THE    OHVK    UH.VXCM. 


when  it  bccoiTiFP  all-important  to  throw  asiile  minor  consiLlerntiou*, 
uixl  iinitv  for  tli  <'oiiiinou  t^ooii ;  uiul  '.v^ipii  u  sexsv  of  (-omiitoii  liiin. 
get  (ir.'iwi  iiH  lo^i'ther  lo  inccl  the  upproaching  stonu. 

''With  sulMiiiHsioii  almost  iiiiioin.tiiig  to  criiiiiiiai  apulhy,  ue  Ii!i\c 
s»ffi'ic(J  |)i  iv.ilioiis  and  les  irulioiiK,  never  bpfoTe  expected  nf  or  rndu  el 
hj  a  ftcc  people  Now,  llial  tvrn  tht  mciiiis  of  subsist*  nf  it,  iit 
h>iz>i(l,  :iiitl  lilt'  sacn  i)  usyluiii  <it'  our  dM«-llin^>,  is  ih>  lonjrtr  lirld 
iriviolahle— silciM.e  woiiiil  he  crime,  aurf  renistar.ce  would  become  a 
lirlue  of  llie  first  vi(i^7ulut!i'  !  !  ! 

"  Rfsolvci),  ih;il  111*  u  fIi  li  iioiis  ami  impoRitions  oil  our  tindc  uiirl 
lOfiniu'ice,  ait'  too  i.rtal  and  'iiiiioiis,  any  loiijitr  lo  be  boiiu— ;ni(l 
that  the  general  distress    of  our  country  di'iuands  immediate  ic'liif.' 


Ed'tract  from  the  Speech  of  J\Tr.  JliUhouse  in  the  Seiuifr 
of  the  United  UtaieSj  on  ifie  bill  fur  tnf arcing'  the 
Embargo  ;— 

"  III  my  mind  the  present  riisis  exritrs  the  most  sorions  nppre- 
honsions.  A  storm  si-e/iis  to  ih  (^a'herirtg  wliicli  poittiids  nut  ;i  tumjits'. 
on  liic  (jcean,  hiil  domestic  to'iralsions  ! — HowiMer  painful  tin-  task,  u 
^(■nse  ol  duly  calls  ii|)oii  me  to  laise  my  voice,  and  use  my  itiinost 
exertions,  to  pieviMit  llie  pas»in»  of  this  hill.  I  feel  mjs<  If  bosiiKl 
in  conscience  to  declare,  lest  the  blood  of  those  who  should  full  in 
the  execnlioii  of  this  mensnie  may  lie  on  my  head.,  thai  I  coiiMiicr 
this  to  be  un  act  which  ilirectn  a  iiioi  tal  blow  Lit  the  liberties  of  my 
country  :  an  act  conlaining  nneoMstiintional  provisicms,  lo  wlii'li 
THE  PEOPLE  ARE  NOT  BOUND  TO  SUBMIT,  and  i« 
which,  in  my  opinion,  they  icill  not  submit.* 

This  fpeecli  requires  a  mofl:  ferioiis  reficRion.  A 
i'eiiator  of  the  United  States — whofe  age  ouob.t  to  have 
iecLired  him  from  the  heyday  of  paflion  and  violence, 
a:id  taught  him  fobriety  and  gravity,  in  his  place  invites 
and  encourages  his  iellow  citizens  to  infurreftion  and  re- 
bellion. And  the  law  to  which  he  excites  refilhince  is 
not  lb  rigorous,  as  laws  wlii'jh,  I  believe,  he  had  concur- 
red to  frame  :  ior  I  am  perluaded  he  was  in  congreis 
when  thofe  laws  to  which  I  have  referred,  were  pa  fled. 

A    large  volume   might   he  filled   with  similar  *' pa 
trlotic    proceedings'*   as   they  were    then   ftiled,    wliich 
threatened  the  peace  of  this  country  with  deftruQion. 

*  For  the  precctlint;  extracts  I  am  indebted  to  a  pamphlcti,  sulci 
'•  Things  as  they  are."  ; 


■X 


THE    OLIVE    BnANfJH. 


13d 


No  pains  had  been  fpared  to  fan  the  flame.  The  public 
miiul  by  incelFant  appeals  to  the  palhons,  had  been  excit- 
ed to  a  fpecies  of  delirium  and  niadnefs.  And  fuch  was 
ihe  delufion,  that  the  fufferings  of  the  country  by  the 
Idwlefs  proceedings  of  the  belligerents,  weje  unjudly  af- 
cribed  to  the  nieasuies  of  the  government,  calculated  to 
enforce  redrefs.  Greater  infanity  can  hardly  be  con- 
ceived. 

CHAP.  XVIII. 

Embarg:o  repealed.  British  and  French  vcufiels  interdict' 
edfrmn  entering  our  harbours.  Importations  froui  bolh 
countries  prohibited.  Invitation  held  out  to  both  to 
cease  their  outrages  on  our  commerce. 


The  clamour  excited  againfl  the  embargo — the  tumul- 
tuous proceedings  in  the  caff  cm  dates — its  iuefficacv  to 
anf'A'cr  the  purpofe  intended,  arifing  partly  from  the  fac- 
tious and  diforgatiizing  and  Jacobinical  oppofition  it  met 
v/ith,  and  partly  from  the  imbecility  of  Mr.  Jefferfun's 
adtninillration,  in  not  duly  enlorcing  it,  as  I  have  aheady 
ftated* — all  combined  to  produce  its  repeal,  which  took 
place  on  the  firft  of  March,   1809. 

As  a  pacific  meafure,  in  lieu  of  the  embargo,  to  induce 
the  belligerents  to  refpet^  our  rights,  and  to  ceafe  pumlh- 
ing  us,  under  pretence  of  retaliation  upon  each  other,  the 
act  commonly  ftyled  the  non-intercourfe  act,  was  pafled, 
of  which  I  annex  thofe  fedions  which  contain  its  lead- 
ing features,       •  ■ 

Jin  Jet  to  interdict  the  Commercial  Intercourse  between  the 
United  States  and  Great  Britain  and  France^  and  their 
dependencies  }  and  for  other  purposes. 

Beit  encctedhy  the  senate  mid  house  of  reprefentatives  of  the  Unit- 
fd  States  of  Amertca,  in  congress  assembled,  That  from  ami  after  tlie 
pasjage  of  this  aci,  the  eutraiice  of  the  harbors  and  waters  of  the  Uuit- 


n 


•  See  page  37. 


-U-:' 


ill' ' 

%\ 

fMl    ^i 

H|f\ 

\n 


i    .  1 


140 


THK    OhfVF,   llMANCH. 


eil  Stjifrs  and  of  the  tervi  oiies  (hercrif,  fie,  and  tlip  same  is  heyebii  in- 
terdictml  to  all  public  ships  and  vessels  helovgii}^  to  Gretit  Uritvin  or 
/'r(i7;fe,  I'Xfpptiiij;  vessels  only  wliicli  mav  lit'  foiTed  ii'  by  <lisli\si,  or 
■wliicli  arcchars;c(I  witli  (lespatclus  or  hnsint'ss  from  lltp  Roveriinu  nt  to 
wiiici)  tliey  lu-lotig,  and  also  packets  h»viiig  no  carpo  or  rncrchuniasu  on 
bo.ird  And  if  any  p^blic  ship  or  vessel  as  aforcsnid,  not  being  iiitliided 
in  (lie  exception  rtbove  menlioni'd,  shall  enter  any  harbour  or  WMters 
■uiilini  the  jniisdieii  )  ol  the  United  Stati  s,  or  of  the  territories  tlieit of, 
it  sliiill  be  Uwfnl  for  tlin  president  of  the  United  stales,  or  sueli  oilup 
pcrion  as  lie  slmll  hj'.ve  empowered  for  tliat  purpose,  to  emp'oy  snih 
part  of  the  hmd  aid  ni\al  forces,  or  of  the  n4iliiia  of  the  Unite«l  States, 
or  the  teriitorifs  (hireof,  as  he  shall  deem  necessary,  to  coinpe  such 
ship  or  venae/  to  depart. 

bee.  ,1,  Jind  he  it  further  enacted,  That  from  and  after  the  fwni- 
tlctri"!av  of  .May  next,  the  eniraiice  of  lh«  hiirbnurs  and  WJiters  of  ilie 
Uiiiii  (I  States  ,nd  the  territories  tli'-reol  be,  and  the  same  is  hi  rclnjintfr- 
dictfd  to  oil  ships  or  vessels  sci/ing  under  tht\fl(i^  of  (,'r  i.t  Bntuni  or 
Franc  ,  or  oivned  in  ivho'e  ov  in  part  by  any  citizen  or  subject  of  either  ,• 
I'essels  hired,  cliartiiid  or  employ  <d  fiy  the  uo^ernment  of  eiiln  i- eoiin- 
try,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  carry  ing  letters  or  desiatche's,  and  jilso  ves- 
sels foreetl  in  by  distress  or  bv  the  dangers  of  the  sea,  only  excepted, — 
And  if  any  ship  or  vessel  snihnc^  under  the  flag  of  Grent  B'  itnin  or 
France,  or  onvnedin  whole  or  :ii  part  by  any  citizen  or  subject  of  either, 
and  not  excepted  us  aforesaid,  shall  after  the  said  tiventieth  dati  of 
jytay  next,  urrve  cither  with  m-  withcui  i.  tar^'O,  -ivithn  the  Inn  fs  of 
the  United  States  or  of  the  territorn's  thereof,  such  ship  or  vessel,  to- 
gether ivith  the  cut'PO,  if  any,  lo/uch  may  be  found  on  board,  shall  he 
forfeited,  and  may  be  seized  and  eonflemned  in  any  court  of  the  I'mted 
States  or  the  territorit  s  lliereof,  having  competent  jurisdiction  : — 
Rnd  all  and  every  act  ami  acts  heretofore  passed,  whicli  shall  be  within 
the  purview  of  this  act,  shall  be,  and  the  same  are  hereby  repealed. 

Stc.  4.  Jlnd  he  it  further  enacted.  That  fi  om  and  after  the  t  w<  ntn  th 
day  of  May  next,  n  "shall  not  be  laM'fHl  to  import  into  the  United  States 
or  the  territories  then  of.  any  goods  -wares,  ormerchund/se  -whatever, 
from  any  pitrt  or  place  situated  in  Great  Bi  itain  or  Ireland,  or  U  oin 
any  o(  the  eoionies  oi  dependencies  of  Great  Britain;  nor  from  uny 
port  or  place  situated  in  France,  or  in  any  of  lier  colonies  or  depen- 
dencies .  nor  from  any  port  or  place  in  the  actual  possession  of  either 
Cireat  Rritiiin  or  France.  Nor  shall  it  be  lawful  to  import  info  the 
I'niicd  States,  or  the  t-rrilories  •!»•  reof.  from  any  foreign  port  or  plare 
whatever,  any  goods,  wares,  or  merchandise  whatever,  being  of  the 
growth,  produce  or  manufacture  of  France,  or  of  any  of  her  colonies  or 
•lependeneies,  or  being  of  the  growth,  produce,  or  manufacture,  of 
(ireat  JJrifain  or  Ireland,  OP  of  anv  of  the  colonies  or  ilependencies  of 
(ireat  l»ritain,or  being  of  the  growth,  produce  or  manufacture  of  any 
plawe  or  country  in  the  actual  possession  of  either  France  or  (i!eat 
BritHin  :  provided,  that  noililng  h'  rein  co  tained  bIihU  be  constiued  to 
aifeet  the  cargoes  of  ships  or  vessels  wholly  owned  by  a  citizen  or  citi- 
zcnis  of  the  United  States,  wh.ch  hnd  cleared  for  any  port  beyond  the 
Cape  of  Ciood  Hope,  prior  to  the  twenty  second  day  of  December,  one 
tliousaiKl  eight  liundred  and  seven,  or  which  had  departed  for  such 
port  by  perndssion  of  the  president,  under  tlie  acts  supplementary  to 
the  i^ct  laying  an  embargo  on  all  ships  and  vcsstls  in  the  ports  nnd  !iar< 
bors  of  the  Uite<l  States. 


THK    OMVE  BRANCH. 


iii 


8o«.  11  .iiul  be  it  fm'thr  enacted  Th  t  tlie  prcsidiMit  of  ll  e  Unit- 
ril  Si.ttt  s  he  •.>■''  he  Ikm'i  iiv  i.  aiiilio' ist-d,  in  case  either  Fviinc-  or 
(ircat  lit itani  ■/*•*  /  so  revoke  or  modfy  her  ettt  t.t,  iis  that  thri/  shall 
ceme  to  ri'o'tite  the  nentru'  cummttrce  of  the  Unite  I  Staten,  to  declare 
the  same  by  fjrociamaivni  ,-  '\fter  whi  h  the  trade  uf  the  United  Sta/es, 
mapend  d  I'y  this  cct.  andbij  the  act  layinq-  .im  ■  mbartfoon  all  ah.p'i  and 
vfssels  hi  the  porta  and  harbours  of  the  United  States,  ami  llie  several 
iiclssuii|ilemtMil;»i  J  llurcto  lua)  bt- ft'iew(  tl  wild  the  iiiitioii  so  doinnj; 
provided,  that  all  (jeiiiiltu'S  ami  ti)rt'(;it  vvs  w  icli  simll  liavt-  been  |ire- 
vioiisl)  iiieiiriitl,  by  virtue  <»!  this  or  oi  >.ny  other  act,  the  Oji  nUion 
of  which  shall  so  teas;  and  (h  terminc  shall  be  recovered  :ind  (hs* 
tiihuti'd,  in  like  marrner  as  it'  the  sitme  had  continued  ni  full  foico 
nnd  virtue:  a  d  vessels  bound  ihircafter  to  any  IVreJgii  P'Ul  O!'  place, 
uitliwhicli  coinuHfcia  intercourse  shall  by  vn-tue  of  lliis  section  be 
;ij::.iii  piiinit  ed,  hliall  gne  boml  to  tl."  "'uiteil  Sii.tes,  with  ai)prove(l 
sLciiriiy,  in  duubh  tin  v.tlue  of   '      <  -  'iid  cargo,  tl^t  they  f       ■       t 

proceed  to  any  foreign  port,  ..^.  trad  ilh  any  couniry  olhe.  Uiaii 
iliou  w  lb  which  eoniiiii  i  cial  inteicimrse  shal  have  been  or  may  be  pcr- 
jiiillcd  by  this  act.     Kaacttd  March  1,  iSOQ. 


I  have  already  flated  how  piepofleroufly  and  abfiirdly 
this  law  was  denounced  by  ninety -nine  out  ot  every 
hundred  democrats  in  the  United  States,  as  lecble 
■ind  imbecile.  An  impartial  review  ot  it  will  prove 
the  tolly  of  this  denunciation.  It  evinces  a  deep  fenfe 
ot  the  grievous  iijarics  the  nation  had  fullained  trom 
both  the  belligerents.  A  hncere  wilh  to  return  to  the 
relations  of  peace  and  frlenrllhip  vvith  eiihet  oi  both — 
and  an  ardent  defire  to  give  a  fair  trial  to  every  rational 
mode  of  procuring  redicfs  witiiout  a  rccourfe  to  the 
horrors  ot  war. 

It  held  out  in  one  hand  prohibition  and  penalty  for 
wrongs  inflided — in  the  other  "  the  Olive  Branch" — 
an  invitation  to,  and  premium  tor,  a  mere  return  to 
jufticc — a  mere  ceffation  ot  unprovoked  hoftility.  The 
ilatute  books  ot  ail  the  nations  of  Chriftendom  may 
be  searched  in  vain,  for  a  lav,'  entitled  to  more  unequivo- 
cal applaufe — and  rarely  has  a  law  been  more  generally 
cenfured. 

The  tederallds  reprobated  this  acl  as  well  as  {\\c. 
democrats---and  with  equal  tolly  and  madncfs---bui  on 
totally  different  grounds.  They  regarded  it,  forfooth, 
as    too    violent  a    ineafure-— as    calculated   to    ..rodiire 


J 


^ 


in 


■T%- 


(I 


II   ' 


iU2 


TUB  OLIVE    BRAXC'U. 


waiv-or  in  fat},  abfurdly  enough,  as  a  fpccics  of  war- 
faic. 

"  Sir,  the  bill  t*efore  yon  itt  xvar.  It  a  \(^  i\\9\>vm\aU  inteTcnnrse, 
to  put  an  ciid  l«  all  llit*  reladoni  of  amity.  What  is  that  hut  um  .' 
IVur  of  (In:  worst  kind — war  uikU-i-  tin-  dts^'uise  of  NON-lNTtKcuuit^K 
—no  power,  liavmj;  iiaiumal  <t<'liiiK»,  oi  icji;iuiJ  lo  u.iijunui  cliuiiic- 
Icr,  will  SUBWiT  to  suck  COLRClOiN  » 

'•  It  [noit-intcicouisf  j  is  fowuidly  ;./«/•  //  is  a  base  ultempl  to  biing 
on  a  wai  ivilh  Great  Unfuin — Ii  is  FRENCH  invvvii/  tealuic.  /;  n 
inlemkU  as  a  measure  of  hoslUity  against  Great  Britain.  •\- 


l^'  (■ 


CHAP.  XIX. 


The  Erslcine  arrangement.     Ji  most   liberal  and  mn<^- 

nanimoiis  procedure^  probably  nei'er  exceeded.     Lima- 

ly  applauded    by    all   pnrfies.  Rejected    by  England. 

Cennnred    by    the  federalists.  Wuuderfal    inconsist- 
ency. 

Never    was    there   a   nieafure   of   more    fainicfs  and 

candour,    than  the    arrangement  made  by   our   govern- 


>i   a;,>] 


lorndci 


ment     with     Mf.     Erikinc.      TUe 

may  be  ranfacked  in  vain  to  pioduce  a  negociation 
more  delcrving  of  encomium,  or  more  honourable  to 
both  parties.  In  foity-four  days  atter  Mr.  Madifon's 
inauguration,  Mr.  Erfkine  made  candid  oveiturcs  to 
our  government  for  an  accommodation  ot  the  exit- 
ing differences  between  the  two  nations.  They  were 
met  with  a  proper  Ipirit  of  franknefs,  and  with  a 
promptitude  never  exceeded.  The  overtures  were 
dated  the  17th  of  April — the  replv  the  fame  day  ;— 
Mr.  Erikine's  fecond  letter  the  18th,  and  the  fame 
day  the  reply  or  tiie  fecretary  ot  ftate.  And  both 
parties    being    fincerely    deliious   of    a    reconciliation, 

*    Mr.  FlilUiouse's   speech   on  the   non-intercourse  bill   b<;lore   the 
BdiKile,  February  22,  1809. 

t  Boston  Repertory. 


I  • 


i» ' 


THE   OLIVE  BRANCH. 


lis 


an  equitable  arrangement  was  adjuileJ  in  three  days, 
that  is  to  fav,  on  tlie  19th,  whereby  neither  the  honour 
nor  the  intereft  of  either  nation  was  cotnpromittcd. — 
And  tri'indly  iutercourfe  between  them  was  once  more 
reftored.  Never  was  a  negociation  condu6led  on  more 
Hbcral  or  generous  principles.  It  was  manlv  and 
niacjnanimous — and  affords  one  of  the  very  lew  inftan- 
ccs  in  which  diplomacy  was  divcllcd  of  her  ufual  at- 
tcndants,  chicane  and  traud. 

To  enable  the  reader  to  form  a  corre6l  opinion  on 
this  fubjo^l,  I  annex  the  whole  ot  tlie  correlpondence 
that  took  place  r(Tpe61ing  it  between  our  government 
and  the  Biitifli  minifler.  It  will  then  appear  that  the 
tian{a6Vion  can  hardly  be  too  highly  eulogized. 


nl 


(No.  I.) 


^n.   EnSKIXE,  TO   MR.   SMITB. 


AIR, 


Trashiiijton,  17 tU  Jpril,  1809. 


*'  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you,  that  I  hnvfi  recnivec'  his  mnjfsty's 
cnmmanils  to  reprfsent  to  the  guvprnnuMit  of  the  Uuitt-il  ■lutes,  thut 
liis  in«jesly  is  animated  by  the  most  sincere  dedire  lor  an  a'lin.^trnt-Mt  ol  the 
(iiffirencvs,  which  have  unhappily  so  long  provaileil  helMt-cn  ili'-  two 
uoniitries,  the  recapitulation  of  which  might  have  a  tendeney  to  impede, 
it'  not  prevent  an  amicable  understanding. 

"  It  having  been  represcnteil  to  his  majesty's  government,  th'>t  tiie 
ooNgress  of  the  United  States,  in  their  proceedings  at  the  opening  ot* 
the  last  session,  liad  evinced  an  intention  of  passing  certain  laws,  which 
would  place  the  relations  oC  Great  Krilain  with  the  Unit'd  Statis  w-rm 
an  eqnal  looting,  in  all  respects,  with  other  belligerent  powt-rs.  I  h  ve 
accordingly  received  his  nnjfsty's  commands,  in  the  event  of  su«h  Inws 
taking  place,  to  offer,  on  the  part  of  \\\%  ni!*j;  sly.  an  hoiioruhle  repara- 
tion for  the  aggression,  committed  by  a  Urltlsli  naval  ofticer,  in  the  at- 
tack on  the  United  "States*  frigate  (yhesapeakc 

"Considering  the  act.  passed  by  the  congress  of  the  United  States 
on  t!ie  first  of  Marcli,  (usually  tenned  the  no  ..intt'rct)ursv'  act)  as 
having  produced  a  state  of  equality,  in  the  rehuio  is  ol  tin-  two  hi;lli- 
Rerent  powers,  with  r- spect  to  the  United  St  ties,  I  have  t(»  snltinii;  '-on- 
tormabiy  to  instrurtions,  lOr  the  considt  ration  ot  ihe  ^  m  ric:)!!  {rovurn- 
inent,  such  terms  of  saiistat-tion  and  rcparatio:.,  as  ii!:.  iii^.j.sty  is  indiit- i-d 
to  believe,  will  bff  ace.  pttd,  in  the  same  Bpirit  of  conciliation,  with 
which  they  are  proposed. 


111 


J 


,'.-., 


14« 


XWK  OLIVE    BnANCH. 


\\ 


"  III  oildilion  to  llip  \>romi)t  disavowal  nriilc  by  U'm  majef^ty,  on  bell)^ 
apjuizeil  ot  tin-  niiinilliiri/.rtl  nri,  roiniiiilt'il  h\  his  naval  ()<!ici;r,  wlmtii 
reciill,  «H  n  inu'k  oC  iln;  kii(jj;'s  ilif-plciisiiie,  I'l oni  an  liiplily  iiii|ioitMi,f 
ami  liou«)tiral)!o  inhunnhd,  inuncdialily  issued.  |\is  majesty  ia  willii;)-  i , 
I'ostoi*'  the  mill  loiriMy  taken  nut  of  tin-  Cl»fs;t«ic«ke,  and,  if  urcrpin. 
h\v  to  the  Aiiici'i  ui  t;i)vpriinuMi(,  to  make  a  suitable  provision  for  iIil 
iinrortiinate  sntlV  ns  on  that  oicasioii 

''  I  have  thf  h'Miciirlo  hi',  wiili  »»'iitini(  iiln  r.f  thchigliest  respect  nnj 
eatibidcialiuitj  sir.  30111*  most  ubvdiMiit  humble  sctvntit, 


"  Tlie  hon    Iti^hi'it  Smith,  Esq. 
•I'crctarjr  of  !iUte,  &;c." 


"  1».  V.  tnSKINK.' 


Miy'it^ 


ir«, 


(No.  IT.) 


Department  of  State,  .Ipiil  17,  ISOf . 


'*  1  liBV*"  lai.l  hcfnrc  the  president  your  note  iti  •wbicli  you  have,  in 
thi-  nanii' and  l>\  Mk- ouhr  nf  his  Kiilannic  majtstj  dcch»rid  that  liis 
llritannic  iiiajt  stv  is  desirous  of  m  ikiiip;  nn  honouralile  rfi>araiion  for 
tlu"  :ifji;rissioi>  comniiltf  d  by  a  Hrilish  naval  ofiiccr  in  the  attack  oii  the 
Mniti'l  Stales'  iVi^ate  tlic  Ches.'pi-aki;  ;  that,  in  addition  to  bis  prompt 
disavowal  of  ihoart,  ii's  majesty,  as  a  mark  of  bis  displeasure,  did  ini- 
mediately  ri  call  tin.'  on'tndiiij!;  oiruir  from  a  highly  important  and  lion- 
ouiable  coniniai.d  ;  and  th;it  he  is  willing  to  rt:Htore  the  men  forcibly 
laki.ii  nt  of  tfif  Cliesaiuake,  and  if  acceptable  10  the  American  gov- 
eriimeni,  to  make  a  suitable  provision  lor  the  unforiunatv  suflerers  on 
that  occasion. 

*'  Th.  govenimpiit  of  the  United  States  liaving,  nt  all  times,  enter- 
tained a  .sincere  desire  for  an  a<ljtistment  of  the  diHerences.  which  lia\e 
so  loii;j;  and  so  unhappily  siihsisttd  beiveeii  the  two  countries,  tlic  pre. 
sidenl  cunnot  but  leet  ivc  with  ]deasiire,  assurances,  that  his  Mritaiiaie 
niajt'st)  is  animated  l>y  tLe  same  disposition  :  and  that  he  is  ready  in 
eoid'ormity  to  thisd'sposiiion,  to  make  atonement  for  the  insult  and  ng- 
Riession  committed  by  o.e  of  his  naval  oHicers  in  the  attack  on  the 
United  States'  fri»,ate,  tlie  Chesapeake. 

"  Vs  it  appears  at  tlie  same  time,  that,  in  mal.ing  this  offer,  his  Hri- 
tannic  majesty  derives  a  motive  from  the  equality,  now  exislini:  in  the 
relations  of  the  United  States,  vviih  the  two  b.  Ili^jere  t  jiowers,  the  pre- 
sident owes  it  to  the  occasion,  and  to  himself,  to  let  it  be  undersKiod, 
tlia;  this  equality  is»  resiUt  incident  to  a  state  of  things,  growing  oiii  of 
distinct  considerations. 

*'  With  this  ex|)lanation,  as  requisite  as  it  is  frank,  I  am  authorized 
to  inform  you,  that  the  presid.  ni  accepts  f  the  not'  delivered  by 
you,  in  the  naivie  and  by  the  order  o  his  Hiitannic  majesty  .  and  Mill 
consider  the  same,  with  the  engaj^einent  conta-ned  (hcri^in,  wht  1  ful- 
filled, as  a  satisfaction  lor  the  iniiiltaiid  i  jury  o  which  he  hah  iiim- 
plained.  But  1  have  it  in  e.xpriss  ilia'  gc  from  tin  pr<  sident,  to  sMie 
that  while  he  frirbeais  lu  ihnisI  on  <i  ftn  tli<  r  |>iii)iv.l.ii  <'ul  oi  tin  <'!■ 
fending  oiliccr,  he  is  not  the  less  scu'^iible  of  the  justice  and  utility  0' 


TIIR    •LIVE  UnAVCH. 


iU 


,  on  b«iu^ 

;i;r,  wliniw 

inijuxiitiit 

if  uccr[)U. 
ion  fui'  llic 

•cspcct  anJ 


ijiicli  in  fxttmjtlc,  nor  Jke  Ipsh  |)eis«:nl«il  lliat  il  would  lirsl  romport 
Willi  wliHl  is  «lii^  fiomliiB  BrilniMiir  m.ijrsiy  lo  lijg  own  lionoiir . 

•'  I  \\nve  \\iv  lionniir  lo  lir,  wiih  the  liit;lit»t   n;8|i«?rt  aiul  ctinsidrr- 
nlioii,  »ir,  your  nioiit  obedient  BcivanI, 

n.  SMITH. 

"Tlie  lion.   David  M.  Erokine,  Esq.  envoy  rxlraordinaiy  onJ  luinis- 
Id  pifiiipolcnliary  of  liis  UriUnnic  luajt-jty." 


RSKIXS. 


>l 


(No.  Ill  ) 


MR.  ER8K1NE  TO  MH.  SMITH. 


17,  ISOS. 


on  have,  in 
red  thot  his 
■\i:»raiion  I'tiv 
itlack  Oh  the 
)  liis  proiuiit 
mve,  did  ini- 
i.iit  and  lion- 
lien  fnrcilily 
luericiiii  gov- 
:  sufferers  oi\ 

imrs,  enter- 

which  liavc 

IS,  tliP  pie. 

lis  Hritiumie 

is  ready    in 

I  suit  and  ng- 
ttack  on  the 

(Tor,  his  Brl. 
islinj:  in  the 
■rs,  tlio  l>i'e- 
Uhdersiood, 

owiuR   »»"'  of 

II  authdiizi'tl 
dchveri'ti  ''.v 

,ty  .  U'lil  vill 
111.  wl)«  '  '"'• 
\»c  ha>.  i<""- 
lent,  to  sitMlc 
„l  (hi  <'t- 
lud  utiiily"' 


IVdshiiifitott,  April  18,  ISOy. 


SIR. 


•'  I  have  Ihc  honor  of  infornriinij  yon,  Ihnt  his  nl^josly,  havini; 
licen  ptrrsuaded  that  ihr  hnnouiahle  rrp:iratioii  which  he  had  rauscd 
lobe  tendered  for  the  unauthorized  attark  upon  the  Amertean  fri- 
gutP  Chesapeake,  would  be  accepted  by  the  gnvernnicni  of  the  Unil- 
rdSlatesin  the  tame  spirit  of  conciliation,  with  Mhich  it  was  pro- 
posed, has  instructed  me  to  express  his  salisfnrtion,  bhouid  rucIi  n 
happy  terroination  of  that  aft'air  lake  niace — not  only  as  havinjj  re- 
moved a  painful  cause  of  diflVrcnre,  but  afl  sifording  a  fair  prospect 
of  a  complete  and  cordial  understunding  being  re-ettlablished  between 
the  tuo  countries. 

"The  favourable  change  in  the  relations  of  bis  majesty  with  the 
Uiiilfd  Stales,  which  has  been  produced  by  the  art  (usually  tL-riMed 
the  non-intercourse  act)  passed  in  the  last  session  of  congress,  was 
also  anticipated  by  his  majesty;  and  has  encouraged  a  further  hope, 
that  the  re-consideration  of  the  existing  dili'erenccs  might  lead  to 
Ihfir  satisfactory  udjHstitieHt. 

"On  these  grounds  and  expectations,  T  am  instructed  to  commu* 
nirate  !•  the  American  governmentv  bis  majesty's  deierntiniition  of 
spiidiiig  to  the  United  Slates  an  envoy  extraordinary,  invested  with 
full  powers  to  ronclnde  a  treaty  on  all  the  points  of  the  relations  be- 
tween the  two  countries. 

"  In  the  mean  time,  with  a  view  lo  contribute  to  the  attainment 
of  80  desirable  an  objert  ;  his  majesty  would  be  willing  to  withdraw 
his  orders  in  council  of  January  and  NovenibPi",  I807,  so  far  as  res- 
perts  the  United  Stales,  in  the  persuasion  thnt  the  president  of  the 
United  States  would  issue  a  proclamation  for  the  renewal  of  the 
intercourse  with  Great  Uritain  ;  and  that  whatever  diflference  of  npi- 
nion  should  arise  in  the  interpretation  of  the  terras  of  such  an  agrcc- 
nent  will  be  removed  in  the  proposed  negociation. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be,-with  sentiments  of  the  highest  consi- 
deration and  esteem,  air,  your  inest  obedient  humble  servant, 


Honourable  Robert  Sm^th,  kc.  &c.  &c. 

13 


n.  N.  ERSKIN 


I 


#1 

r 


.i 


fr".' 


MA 


TIIK    OLIVK    nRANCir. 


(No.   IV,) 

MR.    bMITU   TO    MR     CRSKINE. 


?1R, 


DtpartmeHl  q/'  Suilc,  Apnl  IS,  IfSftj). 


*•  Thf  iu»|p  wliit  h  I  hn<l  the  lintinur  of  imivinjj  from  y«u  tliiii  \\.\y, 
I  loNl  i)«i  I  Mill'  III  1. 1^  lilt;  li«riii«-  I  lie  iircHidfiil,  »  ho,  I>«miik  Hiiirciily 
«|«  iMMiHul  ik  HMtisl,.(  (ni  y  atljiiHlnii'iil  of  llir  difti  iriit  ts  iiiili.t|ipi|y 
(X  -iliiit;  I'l'lWi't'ii  (.ileal  Hi  itaiii  niiil  ibt' Uii  ilcil  SlHli-s,  Iiiih  aiiltio- 
tizitliiit!  to  atiKiirc  ytiu,  (liul  lie  wilt  iiiril,  with  a  iiiHpoMJtKiii  rtn- 
i«'ti,><>ii(lt;iil  Mill)  ili.tt  oi  iii>  liiitainiit'  iH:ijt'Mty,  ihL' th'lti  iiiiii<il.oii  of 
hiH  iii<ij«'9ly  to  Hniii  to  the  IJiiiliii  SlnUHii  i>|i<'i-iul  niviiy,  iiivtbUU 
Willi  full  piiufiH  to  I'oiii'ludc  a  (icaly  uii  ull  the  {luiiiiii  of  the  ilIu- 
I  iniiH  III  C^ci'ii  lli«>  luo  loiiiili  i<  8 

*'  I  nil)  fiiilhfi-  iiiitlioi  ut'tJ  to  usiiire  yon  that  in  ra<e  his  Britniiiiic 
majeHty  hIioiiIiI,  id  thi>  iiicaii  tunc,  withiliaw  hit  oriiiis  in  roiincil  of 
.l.iiiUiii  y  <iiii)  Noveiiihcr,  1)^(17  bo  f.ir  as  it'8|H  ■  ti  the  U 111  It'll  Si al en, 
the  pi'i'Buli'iit  will  not  fail  to  isiiuc  n  proclrtiinttioti  hy  vnKii'  oi  ilic 
untliiiiitv  uiid  for  llir  pin  poKtH  Hprriliiil  in  tiie  i-l«'Teiith  nectioii  of 
the  Mialiiti',  ri)ii)moiily  calleil  the  iioii  iiileicoiiibc  ucl." 

1  huvc  the  houuui-/&c.  &c.  R.  SMITH- 

(No.  V) 


MR.    BR8K1NE    TO    MR.    SMITH. 


SIR, 


Washin^lon,  April  JQ,  I809. 


«*  In  eoii.'irqii'  nee  of  the  acroptnncp,  by  the  president,  n»  staled  in 
yoiii- letter  daicd  the  lUlh  iribt  of  the  proposals  made  by  me  on  the 
part  of  his  maj"  '•ly,  iu  my  letter  of  the  same  day,  lor  the  rencwid  ot 
the  iiiteieonibe  lielween  tiie  respective  (oiinlriih,  1  am  nulhonzrd 
to  declare,  that  liis  iiiajcHty's  orders  in  council  of  January  and  No. 
veiyjier,  IS07,  will  have  been  withdrawn  as  respects  the  UnilCil 
Stiitiei,  on  ihe  lOth  day  uf  June  next-" 
1  have  the  honour  to  he. 

With  gieat  respKt  and  consideration, 

Sir,  your  moit  obedient  servant, 

O.  M.   ER9KINE. 

Honournbic  Robert  Smith,  &c.  &ic.  &c. 

(No.  VI.) 

MR.   SMITH   TO   7!<R.   CRSKINE. 


Department  of  Stale,  April  19,  I80J) 


•in, 


;■■.,  \ 


"  Having;  l"*!*!  before  the  president  your  note  of  this  day,  roniaiii- 
ins;  an  assurance,  that  his  Britannic  majesty  will,  on  the  tenth  day 


3^ii»— 


%je£^ 


/ 


THE    OLIVK    nnANOII. 


J4V 


of  .h\ne  nrxl,  linve  willuiciwn  li'ii  Arilrm  in  connril  nf  Janiinry  and 
Aovciiilii'r,  lt<i»7,  MO  fur  nil  it>)i|H-('lii  llic  I'liilnl  SIkIih,  |  liavt'  Ihc  iio> 
iioiir  nf  ii>runniiitf  y<>*<i  tli>it  dx'  i>i('t>i«l<'iil  will  iiiinifliiigly,  ihkI  hi 
|iiiif«iiuiu't>  of  ill f  ctc^'t'iiOi  c'Ctidii  o)  llir  Nialiilc,  (oiiiinonly  « iiilrti 
llic  iMiti-iiil«>i'i'ouift«'  act,  Uunc  )i  |iiocliiiii;ilion,  no  tliiil  |li«-  Imilc  of 
Ihf  Un'iU'd  SIhIcn  Willi  (iiiiM  Hiitnin  iiiiiy  oiillif  nuttio  day  be  rr- 
iiiwcii,  ill  Uie  maiiHcr  pioviiU*!  in  ilit-  Maid  K<rii«iii," 
f4,.,     J  Uuvc  (lie  liunuur,  ^c.  ^c. 

R     FMITII 


IIT   THE   PUKSIPE.NT   OF  THK   UJ»ITKI)   flTATKS   Of   AMKtUCA. 

A  PKOCLA.MATION. 

*•  Whereas  it  is  providfd  by  liu-  rUvcnIli  srrlion  of  (hr  nrt  of  Con- 
grrBH,  c'lititird,  "  An  act  tu  iiitt  rdirt  llif  roiiinirin.il  inl«  lonivr 
briucrn  Ihi*  Ihiiird  St:ilrii  and  (ircal  Diilain  and  I'laorc,  luid  iIumi- 
d('|)tnd«?nri«'s  ;  untl  forullicr  iiniposrs,"— llial  "  in  lust-  imIIht  r'niiiro 
orCiieat  Iji  ilaln  kliall  so  revoke  or  nindily  lirridiiis  u»  iliat  llit\ 
shall  rriiHO  (o  violate  the  iicntral  roniinirrt'  of  i lit  I'lnud  Si  ti'ti," 
ihi-  iMTRidcnl  ia  authorized  to  dirbri*  Ilif  s;inif  liy  P"  -'••••a!  ion,  :if. 
ttr  which  the  trade  snupcndcd  hy  the  Haid.  •  «  '•'"'  I'V  mi  ucl  lay 
iiii;  an  rniliarjro  on  all  ships  and  vc  •mllif  |inilNand  IiuiImmus 
ot  the  I'liiUd  States,  and  (l.-  '^  voiai  acts  sii|)|»lim.Milarv  llMrcl 
111  IV  he  riMirvci 


I  will)  |l«'  '»''ion  so  <loiii<»       Atid  ii'liercui  the  honour- 

I  IVIon'--''*'  •'•skine,  his    IJnt.innic  in.ijesly'n  envoy  extra- 
„.«  iiiiiiister  |)teiii|)otcntiary,  has,    by  the   order  and    in  Ihe 
^v  nf  W\%  6overei»:n,  declared  to  this  tsoverninent,  that  the  Britisl 


[I  Me  D 


avi 


oiiliiiarv  " 


ii» 


I 

orders  in  conncil  of  Jatmary  and  Novcinher  1807,  v^iW  have  been 
withdrawn  as  rcRjiects  the  United  States,  on  the  tenth  (lay  of  June 
next  Now,  therefore,  1  Ja^Ie-j  Madisum,  president  of  tlie  L'niled 
Ktiiles,  do  hereby  proclaim,  that  Ihe  orders  in  couneil  aforesaid  will 
have  hern  withdrawn  on  the  said  tenth  day  of  June  next  ;  M'\'^- 
which  day  the  trade  of  Ihe  United  States  with  (ircat  nri,^}.)  '|.,y. 
sas|iendrd  by  the  act  of  cnn^iesB  above    nicntionr^r,f,,|  liaihours  of 


i.ig  an  embariro  on  all  chips  and  vessels  in  ibft.,,,^,,^,...  ti,e,eto,  mav 
tlic  United  States,  and  the  several  acs 

be  renewed.  ^  ,i,e   ^cn\   of  the   United  Slates,  at 

>f  onr 


t.  8.     Lord 


Given  nnder   my  h{H\v'ieenth  day  of  April,  in  ih( 
WashiHgtoo,,\;„,„ipj   j,,  Vtindred  and  nine,  and 


pel 


>  ".li'of  the  United  Stutes,  the  tbirtv-third. 


e  \, 


Indc- 


JAMES   MADISON. 


.4te 


ident. 


iiT.  s.MlTH,  secretary  0/ state. 


,'i^ 


N. 


■ver    ■'.vas  a  meafure  more 


lourll 


v  or   iinanimou 


fly 


applauded.     Parlies  a^^rced    in  their  encomiums  on  the 
art  and  the  a61;ors,   who  never  before  accorded  on  anv 


^/•■' 


148 


TilK    OLIVK    BHANOir. 


fubjctl.  Tlie  federalists  cannot  have  forgotten — li 
they  Iiave,  hiftory  will  not  forget — that  they  repeat, 
cdiy  ad'erted  in  the  mod  confident  terms,  that  Eng- 
land had  been  at  all  times  ready  to  do  us  jufticc ; — 
that  it  had  been  in  the  power  of  Mr.  JefFerfon,  at  any 
period  of  his  adminiftration,  to  have  procured  equal- 
ly fair  and  honourable  terms ;  and  that  nothing  but 
his  profligate  devotion  to  France,  and  his  deadly  hof- 
tility  to  England,  had  prevented  an  equitable  adjiift, 
ment  of  all  our  differences.  Mr.  Madifon  was  hailed 
as  a  truly  American  prefident.  He  was  invited  to 
federal  entertainments — claimed  as  a  federalist  and  a 
Wafliingtonian — and  halcyon  davs  of  peace  and  plenty 
were  augured  under  his  adminiftration,  which  was  in- 
dubitably  to  uflier  in  a  political  millenium.  This  farce 
was  carried  on  fo  far  by  the  federalifls  that  the  demo- 
trata  began  to  grow  jealous.  They  were  afraid  ot 
lofing  the  pref.? -r,t.  whofe  eleaion  they  had  taken  fuch 
pains  to  fecure. 

In  an  evil  hour  for  the  UniicA  States,  this  honourable 

arrangement  was  rejected  by  great  Briia"... ^^d  thus  the 

I'wo  countries  were  once  more  involved  in  tlic  -mnft  vex- 
atious difputes. 

I   beg  leave  to  obferve,    that  fo    far  as   refpe6ls  the 

adminiliration    of   Mr.   Madifon,    this  affair  affords  the 

mo  ft    indubitable    evidence    of    the    falfehood    of    the 

N'elkm  °^    French    influence,    with    which    the    wide 

firmlv  beiievecr'b; -^"^^,  ^^"^'-^^  ^'"^    ^"^"'     f"^   ''^  :'.' 
„'    „  ■■^      ■•^dreds   ot  thoulands  or   our    cUi- 

•/cns,  as   any  portion   of     ,    ,         .    ,,      tr  j  .l        i 
.1      n-  u.  A        .-1        t    .1   ?'V  wTiK       Had  there  been 
the  iliahteft  particle   of    that  i...  ■         •    n  • 

u-   «?     •»  I  1        *    I  i  -I   'lis  influence   in  our 

cabinet,     it    could    not    have    tdiled    i.  r    ^ 

•  1  ^  II-         .11      'prevent  fuch  a 

rapid    movement    as    healina    the    long-ei*,  ,^.         ,    , 

cankered   breaches  between  the  two  countries  iP. ,, 
Mavs. 

Never  in  the  annals  of  mankind,  did  a  rooted,  in- 
veterate prejudice  exift,  fo  completely,  fb  unanfwera. 
bly  borne  down  by  a  ftrong  and  irrefutable  fa^,  as  in 
this  cafe  is  the  accufatioa  of    Ercjich   influence  :    arifl 


THE    OLIVE,   nilANCH. 


i49 


vet  no  more  attention  has  been  paid  to  the  fafl,  than  it  it 
had  not  the  {lighted  bearing  whatever  on  the  fubjeft. 
Thiough  tiie  whole  of  Mr.  Madifon's  arhniniflration, 
this  fenlclefs  cry  of  French  influence  has  diflurbed  the 
liavmonv  o{  the  country — endangered  its  peace — and 
produced  the  rnoft  magical  effetb,  on  "the  mofl  en- 
l!|r!itened  n.uion  in  the  world." 

In  every  age,  and  every  nation,  there  is  fome  flang 
prevalent  by  which  the  people  are  befotted,  bcrett  ot" 
liioir  reafon,    and    led    *'  to    plav   fuch    pranks  before 


I: 


liig'.i    heaven,     as  make   e'en    angels    weep."     Who  is 

.^...„.     efTefts     in   Great   Britain    of 


ivnurant    ot  the    magicMl     

t  le  cry,  "  the  c'aurcli  is  in  danger,"  whereby  the  fe. 
verities  and  rcflriZ-nons  under  which  the  proteftant 
JilTonteis  groaned  for  about  one  hundred  and  fitty 
vcars,  were  firnilv  rivetted  on  them.  The  crv  of 
"  French  ir^flw.nci"  in  the  United  States  has  been  To 
oiten  reiterated,  and  To  far  believed,  that  it  ajipcars 
to  tlioufands  o^  our  citizens  both  impertinent  and  aii- 
(iird  to  (ioubt  its  exiricnce.  But  tlicre  tiever  has  been 
the  fliad  ><v  of  prf)of  of  its  cxiflcnce  alleged.  And  I 
leel  perfectly  confident,  that  there  are  thoufands  of 
Knglilhrneii  in  various  parts  of  tlic  United'  States, 
particularly  in  our  fea-ports,  any  one  of  whom  takes  a 
mare  aclive  part  in  our  politics,  and  has  more  influ- 
ence OM  our  affairs,  than  any  twenty  Frenchmen. — 
Talleyrand's  obfervation  on  this  fubjeft  is  perfcftly 
i  i!t.  *'  In  every  part  of  America  through  which  I 
have  travelled,  I  have  not  found  a  fingle  Englilhman, 
who  did  not  feel  himfelf  to  be  an  American  ;  nor  a 
fiiiirle  Frenchman  who  did  not  find  himfelf  a  flranger."* 
There  arc  Frenchmen  in  Kew-York,  Philadelphia, 
and  Baltimore,  who  have  been  naturab/.ed  ten,  twen- 
ty, and  even  thirty  years,  and  who  do  not  interfere 
f )  much  in  our  ])olitics  as  Englifli,  Scotch,  atul  Irifh- 
iiie^n  frequently  do  within  the  ^i^  ft  month  of  their  ar- 
nval.      I   have    never,     in   thirty   years,    known    tliree 

*  Mc^mn'.r  on  t!ie   Commercial   Relations  of  the  United  Stufes  Wth 
tn-laiul,  page  18. 

1,S* 


;:^' 


■\^ 


I 


I'  .»■" 


"'fflBliWBj)i,,. 


-"  ii,.j..ii'iiteii  ■ 


t^ 


11 


Idtt 


THE   OLIVE   BUAN'C  H. 


Frenchmen  in  Philadelphia  who  took  an  attivc  pan 
in  our  politics.  Many  of  ihcm  rarely  exercife  the 
cleflive   traiichlfe. 

This    is   a   di<.ncirion.     Let  us   return  to  the  Erikiiyj 
airangenient. 

The  condijft  oi  the  federalifts  refpefiing  this  cele- 
brated inHrutnent,  wp,s  to  tiie  lafl  degree  inconfiflent. — 
They  were,  alter  it  was  agreed  upon,  as  I  have  ihitcd, 
unanimous  and  loud  in  their  tribute  ot  applaiife  ol 
England,  tor  her  rnagnauiinity  in  offering,  and  of  Mr. 
Madil'on,  tor  his  patriotiirn  and  public  fpirit  in  ac- 
cepting the  terms  propofed  by  Mr.  Efkine.  The  forcr 
ot  the  language  was  exhauPicd,  in  panegyrical  flrdin^. 
And  all  the  ptailes  of  Mr.  Madifon  were  accoinparii- 
ed  by  direft  or  infinuated  abufe  of  his  prcdeccHur.— 
The  two  prcfidents  appeared  like  the  two  ends  ot  a 
fcale  beam — in  propoition  as  one  rofo,  the  other  fnnk. 
Mr.  Madifon  Was  railed  among  the  cclelti.ds — Mr. 
Jefferfon  funk  among  the  internals.  There  was  not  a 
man  of  the  party  from  New-Hampthire  to  Georgia 
that  did  not  atFert,  that  had  Mr.  JefFerfon  thought 
proper,  he  might  have  made  an  arrangemcrit  on  as 
favourable  terms  at  any  time  during  his  admini Ilia- 
lion — for  England  had  been  at  all  times  equally  di(- 
pofcd  to  do  us  jiiftice. 

But  when  England  rcjjf^ed  this  arrangement — when 
fhc  gave  the  lie  direft  to  all  their  affeverations  ol 
her  wilHngnefs  to  adjuft  the  differences  between  the 
two  countries,  on  thofe  fair  and  honourable  princi- 
ples— they  flill  defended  her — and  alTailed,  and  abuf- 
ed,  and  vilified,  and  degraded  their  own  government. 
And  Mr.  Madifon  who  had  been  placed  among  the 
liars  of  heaven,  funk  down  at  once  below  the  horizon 
into  pitchy  darknefs,  v/ith  his  predeceffor.  And  tor 
what  ?  Had  he  committed  any  crime  to  warrant  this 
change  of  opinion  ?  No.  Had  he  altered  the  fyftem  of 
conduft  which  had  been  fo  highly  extolled  ?  No.  Had 
he  broken  his  faith  with  England  ?  No.  His  only 
crime  was  that  England  broke  the  jaith  her  minijlo' 


TlIK    OLIVE   HllANfU. 


131 


had  fo   folcmnly    pledged  to  him  and  his  country !!  I ! ! 
Alas  !  alas  !   poor  luiinari  nature  ! 

To  eftablilh  fully  what  I  have  afTerted,  I  annex 
cxtrafts  from  the  federal  papers  and  fpeechcs,  pub- 
lilhed  before  and  alter  tliC  fatal  rejedion  of  thk  ar- 
rangement. '■    '^ 

><  We  owe  it  to  Mr  Miwlison  nnd  liis  cabinet  to  sny,  ami  we  «ln  it 
Willi  piiile  hikI  pleasmc,  that  Un-y  have  roiiu*  for»nril  w>lh  a  Wojjice 
of  prompiiliirte  nmi  nianliiii'ss  whirh  rf/?rt7.t  much  honor  on  them  and 
thi  country-  IMr  RTadison  hns  now  «l<iiie  ichnt  Mr.  'hffVrtion  «f«.*  re- 
quested by  the  Btitish  gotetnmeitt  to  do  in  the  note  appended  to  the  trea- 
ty returned  hy  him.  Mr.  IVIudison  is  now  eB'trtii-tlly  lesistinjj  tlit* 
Ki'ciich  <lccrccs,  hy  a  total  tiun-nilercou<'se  with  that  cotuiny  :  nnd 
cliis  lonnlry  will  thank  him  for  it  to  the  latest  gtMiiT.-itioii  "  United 
SUtcs' Gazette,  April  24,  ISog 

"  The  candour  f  Ubernlity  and  "incerily  displayed  in  those  documents,  are 
alike  honourable  to  the  two  governments."  Poulson'a  Daily  Advortiiier, 
Apiil  \i2,  I8t»9 

"  Thiit  Mr  iMadisou  does  not  wish  lo  emhroil  ns  with  Ens;lnrid, 
we  are  now  tliorotii;hly  convinced  :  and  whih  hf  continuPi  ,'o  pursue  an 
ht)nt<it  and  impartial  prilicy,  y^h*  rv  he  inakfs  one  entMiiy,  h«'  will  >n\n  a 
liozen  i'i'iendt«."  Biltiinore  Federal  Republican,  as  quoleil  by  the  Plii- 
ladrlpiiiu  Giize'te,  June  22.  ISuQ 

"  Srarrely  was  Mr  Madison  t^aled  in  the  chair  of  state,  when, 
contrary  lo  .ill  our  exp«'(t  iliniis,  htil  agree, il)ly  to  all  »nir  «ishr«,  he 
pure  the  lie  to  all  /</*  eltctionerrinir  adrocate^y  abandoned  pra<tu:ally  und 
ill  llie  fare  of  the  vnrld  thv  polivy  and  course  of  the  Kaifc,  and  ron- 
cliulf'd  w'ilh  Mr  Erskine  an  agreement,  which  knockinc  l\u*  ignomin- 
f'Wi«  hfindciiff:*  fioin  our  hands,  unmor'ng  our  sliip^,  rejoicing  our  htarts  mnl 
elnafing  our  hopes,  drew  from  the  union  (the  j.ieobuis  excepted^  an 
unfeigned  burst  of  heart-cheering  applause  Never  did  a  slatesmatt 
act  inure  popular  or  more  conducive  to  the  true  and  permanent  interest  q/' 
his  country      Philadelphia  GaZ)  Ite,  Jone  Z3,  1 809 

"  The  p.iblic  dommeiits  which  we  this  day  have  the  satisfaction  of 
layini;  before  our  readers  are  of  a  hi)(hly  pleasingf  and  interestinj; 
cliuracter.  The  note  ot  Mr.  Criikine  furnishes  satisfactory  evidence 
of  a  real  disposition  on  the  part  of  his  government  to  adjust,  oa  per* 
maiient  principles,  llie  long  subsisting  differences  with  this  country  : 
•iiul  Mr  Siuith'8  answer  to  tiiat  note  evinces  a  candour  and  prompti- 
uide  equally  honorable  to  the  views  and  wishes  of  the  American  ad- 
niiiiistratiou.  While  both  parties  are  governed  by  this  spirit  of  con. 
iidence  in  the  assurances  of  each  other,  we  can  foresee  no  possible 
circumstance  to  impede  their  arriving  at  a  full,  liberal,  and  advant;  • 
geous  accommodation  "     Philadelphia  Gazelle,  June  19,  1809 

"  We  sincerely  trust  that  an  enlightened  administration  will  coit- 
tinue  by  its  measures  of  prudence,  economy,  and  wisdom,  lo  increase 
the  mortification  and  ra^e  of  meti,  aliens  to  the  Uuo  interests  and 
honour  of  oar  country.    Ibid. 


*'t^^m: 


'W- 


i53 


THE   OLIVE    UKAXOH. 


"i 


Oil  the  fecond  of  Myy,  1809,  Mr.  Randolph  niovfd 
in  thf  hoLiIe  v<  reprclciitiitivcs  of  the  United  States,  llir 
i'ollovv)i;g  iclohition — 

"  Il«>fiolvt  (<,  (hiU  llie  |nomptilU(lc  ami  frHiikiiess  with  whicli  iltc 
Pir»<ii('i*l  of  "'C  Uiiitc<l  SlaUs  Ims  iml  Jlic  ovpittms  of  tin-  {joitrn- 
liivtil  <if  Gical  Kritaiii  tt)\\»ii)s  :i  KKtorutuiti  of  lidi iii«)tiy  ni.il  fiee 
comnn'ici**!  ir.iercouisc  belweni  the  Iwo  iialious,  meet  Ihc  a^piuba- 
tion  of  this  iioiise  '' 

This  occafioned  a  lono;  debate,  in  whicli  the  federr.lifls 
were  nniveilallv  in  iavor  ol  the  mot  ion.  Mr.  Bdrcnt 
Gardnier  was  anionc,  the  moil  ardent  cuKurifts  of  Mr. 
A'lachfon.  There  appeared  to  be  no  bounds  to  his  an- 
plaufe.  .  ■ 

"  Tlji9  !iTe  from  wliic'i  we  c\|)rft»>rl  to  ^aMtcr  only  thf  fuiif  of 
biUertuys  and  sorrow,  is  a  leiidy  yn'lilnp;  iir  frnit  far  d  i  fTc  j  t' n  i — };1;,,1. 
Mess  a!i(l  iin^i)Pi!Ual»!f  jo}'.  'I  o  spt.ik  in  thr  laiimi;!<rc  of  \\\v  itM-lu- 
Mim,  ♦  llie  |Momj>titiulr  inid  fijiiikiuss  with  whuh  ilu'  pipsitlfnt  \\,\% 
imi  the  ovci  !(»rf  s  of  Mri-at  Fiiitaio,'  vvlnlo  t  hey  rrcjivt'  the  *ipn!,inse 
ami  tlie  (iratiliwJc  of  tlu  «iutioi»,  rail  not  h  s«  iinperutvisly  for  un  uiie- 
quivural  (Xiirissioii  of  tiu-ni  hy  l!iis  house 

•*  I  most  say  thi»t  i  do  liko  the  »voids  '  prn^upliludf  nnr/  f/ankncf/:.'' 
The  coinplitnetit  tlicy  cointy  is  highly  riierilcMl,  as  1  shall  endtavoiir 
to  prove 

"  For  hnnging  about  this  stale  of  tltinc,  I  yield  my  hearty  appro- 
hiitiou  lo  the  preside  lit  of  ih«'  I'nitid  .Stans  ;  and  I  hili«  vr  ili.it 
when  r.oneof  us  ei  old  see  the  end  of  our  Irouhles,  liie  pres'iltnt  was 
serreliy  eoiiiliMtiHij  us  to  the  lai»-  lu-ppy  nsiilts 

"  But  at  hut  that  state  of  t/iings,  ofigmnlly  proposed  hij  Great  Bri- 
tain, has  heen  hrouj;ht  ahout,  holh  as  it  n  (lurris  ihe  tquality  eonli  lul- 
cd  for,  and  ns  legaids  the  assurance  ol  lesistaiiie  desired. —  The 
proriamation  heing  removed,  a  fair  adjustment  eould  m<  it  w  iih  ,o 
impediment  from  that  cause  And  it  is  a  melancholii  fact  in  iliis 
respect  there  never  would  hare  been  an  impediment,  if  THI»  gorernmeiit 
had  been  willinfr  to  do  o)i(iinnlly  what  it  has  «<■  last  consented  lo  do 

•'It  isforllie  prnmplilude  and  frankne.ts  wiX}^  whieh  th.  president 
ipet  this  overture,  that  I  thank  hini  most  coidiatly  in  behalf  of  my 
country       I  approve  it  most  lieaitily. 

"  And  it  is  u<»\*  in  pr«)of  before  us,  as  I  have  always  said  and  eon- 
tended,  that  nothing  was  irantinp  but  a  proper  sftirit  of  cnncil'Mlion 
-^nothing  but  fair  and  honouiable  dealing  on  the  part  of  Tills  country^ 
to  bring  to  a  happy  isiue  all  the  ficticious  uifftrences  betueen  this  cmm- 
try  and  Great  Britain  ;  and  lliat  is  now  a(  ki  owledy*  <l  to  be  tru( ,  (or 
saying  wbieh,  I  have  been  s«  much  censured — censured,  because  it 
suited  the  purposes  of  «ome  pj'ople,  to  attribute  to  me  a  confidtiirc 
ill  the  j|l^tice  of  thc  British  govcinmcLit,  which  did  not  become  an 
American  cittzerr. 


XHB   OLIVE    BRAKOS. 


iS^ 


'sxltfit  was 


x'i'lu  prfkiilent  very  properly  retyini;  on  the  assurances  of  the 
Britibli  luiitiktcr,  tliat  llie  edirtH  of  Grcnt  Biiiuiii  would  have  bten 
talhdjawn  on  or  befo'c  the  lUlh  of  June  tb«ii  uext,  aulboriscd  u  r«:- 
uewal  of  iiitercouise  alter  that  day.*' 

The  governor  ot  Maflachufetts  in  his  fpeech  to  the 
legiflature  unites  his  praifes  with  thofe  of  Mr.  Garden- 

icr — 

'*  We  have  f^rcnt  reason  to  indulge  the  hope  of  realizing  those 
\icw8  [unsiug  from  a  revivul  of  conimerc«']  from  the  pruinpt  and 
aiiiicable  disposition,  with  which  it  isundtivtood  Ihi'  preient  fcde* 
ml  iidininistrution  luct  the  conciliuiory  nveitiirpN  of  Great  Britain—. 
a  tii^posilion  which  is  entitled  to,  and  wilt  certainly  receive  the  hearty 
upprobalioH  of  every  one  who  sincerely  loves  the  peace  and  prosperity  qf 
ilm  nation.^'  .      , 

The  fenate  and  houfe  of  reprcfentativcs  re-echo  the 

encomia  (lie  llrain  :  ■     -  - 

"  The  present  administration  of  the  }{cn«rn!  povcriimcnt  has  ha»l 
\\\v.  wisdom  to  discern,  and  patriotism  to  commcin'e  a  course  of  policy 
Hi-|<e(liiij;  our  conuncrre  ami  foreign  rtlatioiis,  which  is  «-alci)1alecl 
to  prvniote  the  piuspcrity,  and  to  secure  the  peace  and  indepeu* 
(li'iice  of  our  couiiiry." 

"  The  pruinpt  iucplaucc  by  the  federal  administration  of  the 
t<iiciliatory  overtures  of  Great  Siiialn,  Hnich  opened  the  wAcr  fop 
tlif  ninuval  of  thuKc  grievous  enibarraKsnu  nis  by  which  the  indus. 
U\  ami  eiiterprize  of  our  citizens  have  so  long  been  paralized,  meets 
'k  approiatiun  and  Kill  ensure  the  support  of  this  commonwealth. 

Mclfrs.  Wagner  and  Hanfon  chimed  in  with  the 
general  llrain  of  approbation,  which  was  carried  to  the 
jitniod  extent,  in  order,  by  the  contraft,  to  blacken  the 
i^haracterof  the  former  admuuftrdtion. 

"Peace  with  Enirland— The  tcor  parly  and  Fmnch  paitiznns  are 
-'■lou'n  into  complete  confusion  'i'he  p<  rseveraoce  of  the  Ea^tirn 
^States,  aided  by  tli<^  returning  ueiise  of  a  fonni«lnble  body  of  i\\v  peo- 
I'l'  "f  Hie  Southward,    have  URIVRN    AUMIN  IbTR  ATION    FROM    ITS 

(iiloLND.  Since  Mr  Jefl'erson  has  letiiTd  in  disgrace  into  pnvatc 
III',  Ins  successor  hat  been  compelled  to  abandon  the  ruinous  policy  un- 
lieruiliich  the  country  has  so  long  stifflred  U'itli  the /wajtwu/j  wi/^,  mid 
'r^itikness  eliaracleristie  of  a  great  ami  enlightened  n:ition,  En;;lan(l 
■I'Ktea  seeoiul  uttanpl  to  renew  the  terms  of  amilif  and  peace  between 
'<?  l<co  nations.  1  he  parlieuiars  of  the  correspomlenre  liem»eu 
"i.  l.ibUine  and  the  *eciciary  of  State  are  given  iit  this  day's  jfapei'. 


V 


i54. 


THE    OLIVB   fiUANCM. 


ml 

Sty 

w 

'w 

It  piovps  what  we  linve  so  oficti  icpealcH,  nnri  wliicli  Iia*  ever  been 
Hltilitioiiily  <lciiu'(l  by  tlie  democrats,  liai  Great  Britain  teas  ultca^t 
influenced  by  a  sincere  desire  to  uccommodute  her  u){furtunutn  dijftrinas 
7vit/i  Ameriia  '\\w  prcsi  i  vhiioii  «iI  tlu-  couiitiy  lias  giuwu  oui  nf  Uie 
cfloittt  o\  I  he  niiiiorny   iii  (-un|;ie»d  *" 

"  So])hi8li-y  i»  htisily  at  uoik  in  llie  tleniocralic  papers  In  kIkw 
tliut  itie  a(  cuminuijiidoii  wilU  Eii|<lHiid  is  the  rewult  ot  demsiiaiM- 
plaiis  thnl  IK  In  8uy,  of  the  emh!tr||>o  and  iioii-iiittrt  oui'se  luw      ii 

this  could  be  niudr  to  appear,  it  would  80  far  absolve  their  aiiilims 
from  the  ruin  and  (iuifrriii)!&  iinposro  by  tlioisc  laws,  hn  to  prove  tlii 
they  bad  oome  elfeit.  l^tit  the  eommoii  Sinse  of  the  people  is  pinnf 
against  the  tletuhioii,  who  arc  persuaded  that  whot  was  ho  easily  tf. 
filled  [Mr  Eiskine's  arraiipement]  in  April  last,  init»ht  bav«  brcn 
done  loiic  bd'uie,  and  the  nation  been  thereby  saved  from  the  hiinii< 
liiition  of  ritiiio);  from  theexerrisc  of  itf:  nt^lits  upon  the  orenn,  as 
well  as  the  imiiteiise  loss  it  has  siiHered,  and  eDiitinues  to  sustain  in 
the  dec  ay  and  <lepreeiiition  of  its  produre.     Every    reflecting  miiid 

feels  this  at  once nor  does  it  rci|nirc  any  riiruitous  argunin  t  to 

be  roiiviiu'cd,  that  a  persevering'  and  ardent  opposition  to  t/iexe  demo- 
cratic ji'flglc'ii  tind  not  a  totunfari/  abandonment  of  them,  broke  the 
cmkurgo,  and  placed^  France  and  Great  Britain  upon  that  equal  fool- 
illgy  uhick  the  LATf^K  UNIFORMLY  UfiCLAREO  WOULD  INDUCE 
IlEB    TO   COMPKO,»»"V^ 

•*  Sincere  and  gei'.^jul  as  has  loecn  tlte  joy  spread  by  the  rrturn  of 
a  f;nod  underE<tandiiij;  with  Eii>i;land,  will  be  the  indiguntion,  whirb 
»t  no  distant  day,  a  calm  review  «f  the  snares  which  have  been  Inid 
to  entrap  our  peace,  end  extinguish  our  prospfrtty^  icill  iinaroidubly  in- 
spire. The  rurrent  of  the  dibupuiobatioii  of  this  ronspiraey  is  nut  >ita 
ettiiii— >:t  itns  Tnoct)  gre..tt-r  piCgrc.;A  to  make— nor  will  il  f^top  iinil 
it  places  an  insuperabla  bar  againtit  even  the  aspiring  paity  whidi, 
till  lately,  has  loidtfd  it  without  opposition  over  the  state  of  Maiy. 
land."t 

I  fhall  add  to  thefc  extrnfis  the  Centlments  of  Mr.  Cole- 
Hian,  editor  ot  the  New-York  Evening  Poll,  which  are 
as  ftrong  and  dccinvc  as  any  of  ihe  others. 

"  Look  at  the  files  of  this  paper  for  a  twelvemonth  ;  you  will  find 
it  iiiHiPtfd  upon  that  Gre-i  Br  tain  wished  for  an  adjostment  of  differ- 
ences, and  would  come  to  an  accommodation  the  moment  we  gave  her 
a  chance  to  do  so,  by  placing  her  on  an  equal  footing  with  France  —Mr. 
Erskiiie  very  pi  omjuly  begins,  by  stating  on  our  governntent's  placing 
ISnglaiid  on  a  footing  with  France,  England  will  make  reparittion- 
JUsT  PRECISILV  WHAT  I  HAVK8AID  A  HLNURED  TIMFS  OVIR 
IS  THIS  TAPItR,  BHK  WOULD  YKRY  CJLADLY  DO. 

"The  firf>t  part  of  the  second  resolution  accompanyin}?  the  report 
of  the  committee  of  foreij^n  relations  [Campbell's  repoit]  cor,lem- 
plated  ail  arrangcnient   by   which  the  respective  kelhgereiits  would 


Federal  Reijuljllcan,  April  21,  1809. 


Uem,JvLUA,  18C?. 


,  ..^J^»«^.,>^v 


THE    OLIVE    nriAKC'II. 


1.3.5 


be  p!acc*1  in  a  stute  of  equality  as  to  the  exclusion  of  their  sliips  of 
wii  tiOMi  uur  hill  hours.  Tiiis  icpcit  «vns  sent  to  Kii)r|iui(i,  :iiiil  intme- 
liiaieiii  ttic  Bi'itmh  niini.stcr  UlilfCTKD  Mr  Ei'skine  to  make  the  pio- 
p(i.%t.o>i»  «vhirh  hiiv(>  Uti  iy  (tvcii  <iccc(l('(l  to  niid  puhliohni,  provitlcii 
aii\  n»iu"UH'sU!aJ  udoptrd  \\\i\r\\  woiihl  place  (ircut  Britain  pi  u  ftato 
ot  ('i|ii;il.ty  uitli/a/  i-nrmietf  us  t(»  the  admission  <ii  ( xchisioii  of  lii"r 
)l>'|>>)  of  MHI-  lio>l>  iHir  h  illiotlis        ThK   NON   INTKKCOUIISR  act  was 

OF  THIS  N  ATtiiE  Mv  Lrski  lie  st.ltil  t  he  intentions  of /us  govern- 
moi:,  .nut  nil  hcic  in»'   t  li^i'*  hctii  minh'."» 

"  W't  II  in:iv  tlif  nil  I' li 'I'ts  of  Ah  xaixiiiii  rpjoirr  at  !VIr  'Tii'lisoii's 
rf'/zrn  til  till  i.'oo(i  old  |»>  iiin|ili'M  of  F»,i)FR  A  I.isM  Li  t  the  cr«?y  j»ro- 
tVn.'iou  of  Jt/p.rsotiUinifni  'ity  tluMiisi-iv.  h  up  to  ivrrpiii>;  and  wailioij, 
aii'l  .'  tlwatH  :t  i.'f  stints  of  j.'iloiisy  and  inoitifiratioii  ;  the  f«'dnal- 
ikt>  WiLi.1  p.i)  h<)in.<L'>  to  .Ml  Mudlsoii,  while  he  coiilinues  to  pur- 
sue tiie  coiiise   he  has  taken  "t 

Relyino'  on  the  trood  faith  ot  Great  Brltani,  our  gov- 
ernment iinuiedi.itcU'  reiiiovcd  all  the  rcftri6tions  on  her 
lomriuMcc,  rcilo  td  the  iiiteicouire  !)et\vcon  tl'C  two  na- 
tion.s  to  the  ftitc  in  which  it  had  1'  -.'n  previous  to  the 
miriiiidcrlKnidin^T,  and  expelled  to  be  met  on  the  fame 
fair  and  honoiudble  giound  by  the  other  contracting 
paity.  But  Fat. illy  other  counfels  prevailed  at  St. 
Jdtiics's.  The  folemn  contratl  made  by  its  minif^er 
plenipotentiary  \yas  rejcfted  on  the  ground  ot  his  having 
"exceeded  his  inftrutVions." 

H.id  Mr.  El  (kine  made  a  wanton  facrlfice  oF  the 
honour  and  interetts  ot  his  country — the  rejeflion  ot 
the  arrangement  might  be  palliated,  perhaps  juflified. 
But  no  man  who  has  any  regard  to  his  character, 
will  pretend  this  to  have  been  the  cafe.  Both 
were  equally  fecured.  Atid  to  prevent  any  difHculty 
in  the  adjuftment  ot  the  difpute,  to  evince  more  fully 
Mr.  Madifon's  finccre  vvllli  tor  harmAnv,  the  thorny 
and  difRcuit  fnbjeft  ot  imprefl'ment  was  laid  afide  tor 
future  negociation. 

"  But  Mr.  Erfkine  exceeded  his  inftruftions."  What, 
in  the  name  of  heaven,  I  afk,  mud  have  been  the  inltruc- 
tions  that  did  not  warrant  an  envoy  extraoidinarv  to  pro- 

'e  or  ratify  fuch  an  arrangement  ;  fo  plain,  fo  fimplc, 
10  fair,  and  fo  honourable  ? 

*  New-Yotk  Evening  Post,  April  2S,  1809,    f  I'ederal  RepublicAii. 


1 

If 

fi 


\    .\V 


*  .*. 


L 


r 


15« 


rHEOLlVlt    BltANVH. 


/ 


But  admitting;  lor  a  moment,  that  Mr.  Erfkinc  exceed 
ed  his  inftruttious — or  let  us  go  fo  far  as  to  fuppofc 
that  he  had  made  this  arrangement  oi  his  own  mere 
motion,  without  any  inftrutlions  whatever — what  rea. 
fonable  objeftion  could  be  made  to  it  ?  Could  the  moll 
paitial  friend  ot  England,  it  aftuatcd  by  honourable 
views,  require  better  terms  ? 

Let  us  analyze  the  arrangement — let  us  ftate  the  quid 
pro  quo — 

To  Jlmerica  it  afforded 

1.  A  repeal  of  the  orders  in  council — 

2.  Atonement  for  the  outrage  on  the  Chefapeake. 

i  ■ 

To  Eng;land 

1.  A  rcftoration  to  all  the  immenfe  advantages  of  tlic 
moft  valuable  commerce  in  the  world — 

2.  A  continuation  of  the  fufpenfion  of  intercourfc 
between  the  United  States  and  France. 

I  freely  appeal  at  this  moment  to  Timothy  Pickeriii^r. 
Alexander  Contee  Hanfon,  or  to  Harrifon  Gray  Otis, 
to  decide  whether  there  was  any  thing  Cn  thefe  terms 
that  ^ould  warrant  the  government  of  a  mighty  na- 
tion to  break  the  faith  pledged  by  its  minifter — and 
to  at<ach  difgrace  and  difhonour  to  that  minifter  in 
the  eyes  of  the  world  ?  Neither  of  thefe  gentlemen 
will  dare  to  aver  that  there  was. 

The  reader  vho  has  perufed  with  attention  the  Erfkinc 
arrangement,  and  confidered  tiie  advantageous  terms  it 
infured  to  England,  will  be  ftruck  with  furprize — and 
he  will  naturally  afk,  by  wh'it  ill-ftarred  counfels 
were  the  Britifti  ininiftrv  influenced  to  rejeft  this 
meafure  ?  This  is  a  queftlon  not  eafily  anfwered.  I 
ihall  attempt  a  folution. 

A  recurrence  to  the  17th  chapter  of  this  work,  will 
fhew  the  tumultuous  and  Jacobinical  proceedings  that 
took  place  in  MalTachufetts  in  the  early  part  of  the 
year  1809.  Open  refi fiance  to  the  embargo  was  advo- 
cated in  the  papers — preaclied  from  the  pulpit — obfcure- 


[.*' 

i 


\ 


TUE    OLIVK    nUANill, 


157. 


!y  menaced  In  the  legiflatlve  1)0(!\' — niiJ  publicly  pro- 
c!jiiiu*(l  ill  iiifldinniatorv  lefolutiDiis  ot  town  njcclings. 

Intelligence  ot  thelc  (lilgracctnl,  thefc  Jacobinical 
proceedings  readied  Etigland  cotemporaneoufly  with 
tlie  account  ot  Mr.  Krikine's  arrangement.  1  think 
it  highly  probable  that  the  Britilh  niiiiiftry  fl.iltered 
ihcinrclvcs  into  tlie  opinion  that  our  government  would 
be  obliged  to  abandon  the  reftriMive  In  fie m  altogether — 
;u\d  that  they  wonld  then  be  able  to  enforce  the  orders 
in  council,  without  lofing  the  advantaijes  ot  our  traile  ; 
and  tiiat  this  confuierdtion  induced  them  to  rejefct  the 
aiiangement. 

This  1  oder  nicrelv  as  a  corjc/durc.  That  it  is  plau- 
fihli',  cannot  be  denied.  But  in  our  tinu-^  there  will 
probably  be  no  opportunity  ot  afcertainnig  how  tar  it  is 
corrctt. 

Another  reafon  has  been  afTigned,  It  is  faid  that 
George  III.  was  irritated  at  the  itripiicd  cenfiuc  of  his 
govcinment  refpc^.ting  the  conduct  of  Admiral  Herk- 
Icy,  which,  it  is  alfcitcd,  fo  tar  wounded  his  feelings  as 
to  induce  him  to  rej<.'6l  the  airaugement.  Man\  of 
our  citizens  have  defended  the  rejeHion  on  this  ground. 
Lf't  us  ctlinly  and  boldiv  in\'eltiii  te  the  afF.ir. 

Tlie  United  States  aie  in  a  itate  ot  picdound  peace. 
One  ot  their  national  vcflels  leaves  port.  She  ex- 
pects no  attack.  She  is  unpieparjd  tor  refi{l;mcc.  She 
is  followed  by  a  vefLd  of  lupcrior  force,  belonging  to 
a  fiiendly  power.  This  veff'el  has  juff  eijoxcd  tlie  liof- 
p'talities  ot  our  ports.  S!ic  oveitakes  oui  trig-ite.  She 
iinperioufly  demands  four  fcamen,  faid  to  be  liiitifh. — 
Brudh  or  Americans,  they  bad  entered  vohmt.iilly. 
And  let  it  be  borne  in  remembrance,  the  demand  is 
made  by  a  nation  which  holds  in  bondage,  thoufand-:  of 
our  citizens,  who,  in  the  purfuit  of  their  lawful  v  •»  a- 
tion,  have  been  fcizerl  by  force  and  violence,  aiiti  'ten 
with  bloodfhed  and  def'perate  wounds.  And  furthr-r  let 
it  be  alfo  borne  in  remembrance,  the  demand  is  made  by 
a  nation  which  HAS  proci  mmild,  as  an  irrevoca- 
ble LAW  TO  \LL  THE  WORLD,  that  she  Will  hold  at 
14 


\ 


< 


i 


\\ 


■    * 


i5B 


lUL   OLIVE    BRAN'MH. 


every  hazard,  ihofe  seamen,  natives  of  xvhatfoever  coun- 
tiy  thry  may  be,  who  enter  her  ferv  ce  vclunta)il)  "* 
The  (U'lnaiid  is  icpcllfd.  Our  vcllcl  is  uttackcd.  Our 
umcfiUiii^T  citizens  are  cruelly  murdered  !  ! !  The  decks 
ot  our  vellel  flow  with  blooil  I  !  She  is  taken.  The  crew 
is  overhauled.  Four  of  them  are  outrcgcoufly  fcizcd 
;ukI  made  priioners.  One  is  igtioiniuiojiny  hanged!' 
The  other  tiuee,  tully  proved  to  he  Americans,  aic 
Leld  in  bondage I  can  go  no  fuith.cr My 

f)en  letufes  its  office Does  not  tliis  l)lood  cry  to 
icaven  tor  vengeance  on  the  murderer  ?  Can  the  foul 
ILun  be  efldccd  but  with  blood  ?  "  Whof'o  flieddcth 
man's  blood,    by  nian   fh.dl    his  blood  be  flied." 

But,  rcc' 'er,  I  was  wrong.  My  leelings  led  me  as- 
tray.     The   atonement    was    worthy  of    the  juffice  ot 

t'nc    nuinarcii    whofc    f'ul)j  -tls    perpetrated worthy  of 

the  nation   which  fufTcred the  hoi  riblc  outrage.     For 

Admiral  Berkky  "  was  recalled  ftom  a  hifi^hly  unpor- 
*'  tant  and  honourable  command,  as  a  mark  of  the 
*'  lung's  difplmfure  !  !  +  But  let  it  be  added,  he  was 
taken  away  to  be  placed  on  a  better  ffation.---He  was 
removed  from  Halilax  to  be  ftationed  at  Lifbun.'|:— 
And  this  vvas  tlie  only  mark  of  dilpleafure  he  c\cr 
experienced.  In  1810,  be  was  promoted  from  the  rank 
of  vice-admiral  to  that  ot  admiial.  He  is  now  lord 
high  admiral  of  Portugal. 

To  be  ferious.  Every  man  of  a  correal  mind  and 
found  principles  felt  that  bis  Britannic  majeffv  owed 
it  to  htmleH  to  have  difplayed  his  difapprobation  of 
the  foul  deed  in  fome  other  and  more  decifive  mode. 
The  offender  ouglit  to  have  been  punifhed.  And 
theiefore  it  is  impoffible  not  to  approve  the  dign'fied 
but  mild  ffyle  in  which  the  prefident  treats  the  tranf- 
atllon  :-— 

•  This  renson  kas  been  repeptedly  assigned,  to  justify  a  refusal 
of  the  auiTvnder  of  naiivcs  of  America,  held  in  boiidiige  on  l>oanl 
llritisii  vessels  of  war,  when  clRimeii  hy  the  proper  agents  of  nur 
government.  f  See  Mr.  F-rskin^'s  Letter,  No.   1. 

t  The  outrage  was  corainillcd  in  June.  He  did  not  leave  Halifax  tili 
Weccmbcr. 


•'. 


^^4 


HIE    OLIVE  BnAvcir. 


130 


"  I  fiiu  aiithorixcil  to  inform  ynn,  lli«t  tlip  jtresidcnl  nrrrpts  of  tli»! 
untc  ilelivtinl  ^v  ynii,  in  tlie  nninf  himI  l«y  llic-  uiil*  r  of  liis  Hiitiiiinii' 
niitji"-').  "'"'  *'''  csnalilfi"  lliu  same,  with  tin  enjj.'ipm*  nt  cnntitincd 
tUti-i  ill,  wlicMt  fnllilled,  «t  u  satu/  tlion  fir  the  innult  (iml  iujiiru  cf 
ihtch  he  h(ta  co^npl:  iiied.  Mnt  I  Imvo  it  it  «'XJ)ilss  tliiirp- fK.m  ||,,; 
[III  mlirit  to  siMte,  tli^il  liilc  lie  foi  henrs  to  insint  iiii  it  tin  tlicr  imnisli. 
iiit-iil  III  tlie  ufl'uinliii^  officer,  he  tn  not  the  Irsa  ntnaib'f  of  the  JKHtice 
md  utility  of  such  an  example  nor  the  I  ks  /jeraiintlnl  that  i  •woiihi 
hrtt  aimport  ^vlth  what  is  due  from  his  Britannic  iniijes  i/  to  his  nvn 
humiir  " 

To  enable  iis  to  form  a  correft  idea  oT  this  tranfafiion, 
!ft  us  fuppolc  tliat  cor  nioclorc  B.imii  had  anchored  in 
I'orthiU'iith  o)  IMyinoiith — that  twenty  of  his  fai!  >rs  had 
v.)hintdnly  entered  on  l)o3r(l  a  Britilh  irigate — tliat  he 
liad  demanded  t'.iem — that  he  had  hd lowed  the  vcflld  to 
fca — had  attacked  her — had  killed  part  of  her  crew — had 
taken  away  as  niany  as  he  ju(li;ed  proper — and,  Hnallv,  to 
cap  the  climax,  that  he  had  handed  one  of  thcni.  Wii.it 
would  be  t'lc  rcfult  ?  Venge.mcr,  venjTcance  would 
have  been  the  cry  from  the  Orkneys  to  the  1  uid's 
end — anfl  nothing  wonld  appeafe  the  infuited  dignity 
ol  England  but  Copcidiageni/ing  New-York,  or  Balti- 
more, or  Philadelphia,  or  Chaileiton. 


"  My  dear  fir,  one  of  my  oxen  has  gored  one  of 
your  cows."  "  Well,  to  be  mrc,  yfui  will  make  lepara- 
tion — yoLi  will  fend  mc  a  cow  in  the  place  of  the 
one  I  have  loft.  To  that  you  cannot  make  anv  ob- 
j '^Vion."  ••  It  Is  all  very  right.  But  hold,  1  mif- 
took.  It  is  all  the  other  way.  It  icas  your  ox  that 
§orfd  f?iy  cow,  "  So,  fo,  we'll  fee  about  it.  Call 
lome  other  time."  "My  good  fir — this  is  not  very 
corretL  Th^  hufinefi  xvould  have  been  foor.  /tttlcd,  had 
you  been  as  willing  to  do  jujlice  to  others  as  to  receive 
Uj'roni  them.'* 


Since  the  above   was  written,   I  have   ronfnlfed   Mr. 
Canning's  defpatches  to  Mr.  £r(kine,  by  which   it  ap- 


«.. 


IGO 


HUB    OLIVB    BRAKUII. 


I, 


pears   tliat  the    Britifti    govcmmcnt   calculatr.l     ,u  'Jj 
tifkinc's  udjiilling  the  (lifFcrcnccs  between  the  vv)  ),.. 
liuiis  uii  the  tulluwitig  bafis. 

Jti.vfvact  of  a  Letter  from  J\fr.  C(ivvnis:i  t^ccretnry.  fo 
tlu'.  lion.  David  JSl,  Lrskine,  dated  Funign  OJJlcvy  Jui' 
uary  26y  1801). 

"1.  Tliiit  tlic  Amcrienn  pfovtrnmcnt  is  prrpnred,  in  (lie  cvpiit  rf  I;  • 
uinj  st>*s  coiisiMiiiii;;  to  Miili<!niw  llir  onlriii  in  coiiiicil  of  .liuiiiHr>  mul 
Jfovi  iiib  r,  I8(»7,  to  wiiliili-  w  idliiuijorancfuisly  on  in  imrl  llu- intd  ■ 
«li(lioii  oi'  ils  ItHilmrs  lo  ships  «>!  wur,  Hud  nil  iHiu-innicouisu  and  nun. 
inip'ii  iiiiioii  aclH  solar  ns  rti|uciH  <ii'i-ai  Miiiit^i  ;  JiminK  tlicm  in  (one 
villi  roHpccl  lo  l'"r«iicc,  ami  tiiu  powers  wliitli  adopt  or  act  under  her 

•■  2  (Wlint  is  of  llic  utmost  import ;inco,  iis  i>rt'(lnrtinj!;  n  iifw  «o\iiCf 
af  mis  iidorsliiiidiri^',  wliirh  hut;lit  arise  :iti»r  iho  >djualiiiiiit  oi  ihr 
ftllii  r  iiufsliiiiis.)  \^jl/uit  .hnrricu  in  wilUncf  to  renounce,  (luring  th- 
pycifiit  wiir,  the  fivetensinn  of  laivitnif  mi,  /7i  fivie  of  war,  all  'vaJr 
nvilh  the  enemy  a  co'oiues,  fvom  v/uch  nhe  tuas  r.rclndcd  durintf  pecc  ! 

"3.  (irciU  HritJiiii  lor  tlif  purpose  ol  sfciuinj;  llic  openilioi)  ol  tlic 
embiiiKO,  and  ol'  tJii-  l:uU(i  fuli:  iiitt'iiiioii  of  Aiiit  rica  to  pi  event  Ikt  cili- 
'/t'ii4  tVoin  Irnding  with  rr^incr,  and  the  powt-i'ii  udo]itin{;  and  ai  tin(;  uii- 
iler  till!  Friiitli  dcuit  s,  ^\j-  is  to  Ae  couxidt' ftl  as  hrinj  at  Ll>evt>/  In 
cajdure  al  such  .ivtcru  <in  vcnitetn  a  luuy  he  J'uiind  cttcTripdtijt  lu  iKnk 
'tuith  the  fjovta  of  any  of  tin  sc  powers  ;  wiilioul  wlii<li  sccuritj  for  t  lie 
observance  ol  tho  embarpio,  llit-  rais.i  jr  ot  it  iiomiii'liy  niib  rfspe(  l  to 
iireat  Uritain  alone,  wciiid,  in  i'uct,  raise  il  with  rcspett  to  all  lli.: 
•world. 

(i^t'  *'  On  these  condiliotn  hix  m<ij(  ^ty  ivoultl  coJiSi^nt  to  withdiaw  the  or- 
tiers  in  cvahcti  of  Junuunj  and  Suitnibtr,  18u7,  so  far  us  reipu'-i 
America.^* 

Let  US  examine  this  mofl  precious  document  with 
ull  the  attention  its  importance  ilcniands.  Let  us  weigh 
its  every  line  and  every  word.  Let  us  fee  what  jiii- 
ticc,  what  fair  dealing  it  nicted  out  to  this  iiijuinl, 
this  infuhcd,  this  plundered  n>>lioii.  Let  us  fee  how 
iar  the  advocates  oi"  Enj^lifli  liberality  and  Knglilh 
juilice  are  borne  out  in  their  romineudations  oi  Eng- 
land, and  their  intemperate  abulevot  their  own  govern- 
ment. 

-  The  orders  in  council,  exifting  at  the  date  ol  the 
Erfkme  arrangement,  blockaded  France,  Holland,  and 
a  D^it  of  Italy,  contahung  a  population  oi  about  httv 
millions  of  people. 


HIE   OLIVE    IIRANCH. 


int 


event  f-f  1 '• 
,l:i»iUHr\  (tinl 
irl  ilii-  liitii- 
rsu  ami  unii' 
litm  ill  loric 
tt  uuilcr  her 


By  Mr.  Canning's  innnifilnns  to  Mr.  Krfkinc,  tlicfe 
oiili'is  wore  to  bo  lorciiulcfl  on  tlirrc  ron.litions — 

1.  T.ikiii<r  off  .ill  our  rclhiHions  from  the  Knglifli 
coiiiincrcp. 


RcMiouncitur"  (lininjT  tlir  cxiftin^  war,  "«'/  trade 
with  tlic  enemies'  colonies  from  winch  we  wete  ex- 
(liidefl  in  time  of  pe;ue  :"  in  other  words,  alieniinq;  by 
ucMtv  to  the  niijnll  and  exploded  rule  of   i7,'/>. 

3.  Allowinir  til-  Bntiilito  capture  our  vellels  bound 
to  IV'Wice  and  her  dependencies,  \v  11  icii,  reader,  IS  NF.i- 

TIIKll    MOUK   NOK     LKSS,  THAN     WKAVINC,  TUK    OR- 

niKS  iM  rouNcii,  INTO  A  TRKA  I  Y-.-jrivinj^  our  own 
[oli'inu  i'.mrtion  to  the  extiavajrant  prctenfions  ol  Gieat 
Hrit'iin  to  limit  our  trade,  which  pictenfions  we  had 
lU'.rlily  refiikd. 

Stupendous  mjuflice!  --Never  before  were  furh  re- 
voltiriiT  piopofltions  ni.ide  to  any  nation  not  fubdued. 
W'h.it  !  Alike  a  treaty  by  whic  h  we  let  loofe  the  whole 
Iioftot  the  thoufand  (hips  of  war  and  the  hundreds  o! 
privateers  of  tliegrcileft  naval  power  in  the  world,  upon 
our  defencelefs  commerce  !  I'iie  mind  is  loft  in  allonilh- 
nicnt  at  fuch  an  unparalleled  re(]nifition. 

Rut  ^rofs,  and  inlultinil,  and  outrageous  as  was  this  pro- 
p(ifition---de{lru6tive  as  its  accej)tance  would  be  to  the 
vital  intercffs  of  the  countrv---tliere  was  no  federal  printer 
iicMTi  New-Hampfhire  to  Geor«^ia,  that  exj)re{red  a  fmglc 
u(  rd  of  cenfure  of  the  conduct  of  England  for  her  dar- 
irh.r  A\\i\  infulting  demands,  or  for  her  breach  of  the  con- 
tr;ifL  No.  England  was  uniformly  right---their  own 
g)vernmcnt  as  uniformly  wrong.  It  feemed  imponfible 
to-  Eiii^Iand  to  commit  any  a6^,  or  make  any  demand  that 
would  not  fie  juflified--- 

Let  nie  clldblilh  thefe  allegations--- 

^  "  It  liavini?  heeii  s'lcwri,  tlmt  tlie  iilea  of  ip;nnrnnco  is  innflmisslMc  in 
t'lc  case  of  the  Ki^ki'  h  Hrr!ui5,omeiit  ;  iluit  it  w:is  llie  '»  rvfrtury's  iliiiy 
to  know  the  power  ni'  il,e  niiniatt  r  Ix't'ore  lie  ])rr>cfci'.  ■!  to  «ct  upon  it  ; 
ihif  to  Hctii|)iri  a  I  iiiikiMiwn  power,  is  to  act  williont  power:  it  i'ollows 
tint  our  Ji(lti)ini;,t(  Ht  o  I,  ii'  ilicy  uiiilt:"-«tO(i(l  tlieir  Itusiiirss,  must  Iiave 
li .'  n  uwiire  lliat  /'fheu  lo^re  W'^rtttatinpr  with  inx  ti.uiut.'i'ji'izi'd  inili- 
■  ■liuul — ui.auihoriiicd  ■,  •">'il  hoc,  as  to  this  particular  subjcet — with  c.'rie 

14* 


I 


'f 


,Fjr^: 


165 


TUii  OLiVE    KRAN't'H, 


■ivho  hrtd  sheitn  110  nuthoritii  fur  tlif  fntrfiosp.  Conscfiucntly  llnyLftu 
MO  rcasdn  to  r«  ly  on,  nor  to  e\;ii'«'t  »  tnirilmi  nt  of  th'-  coiiipjict  hy  \\\v. 
Ui'iiisli  fjnvcpi.mo.t.  kii-.v  iK^  ait  tln'ii  iHd,  tlmt   it  had  bren  r.-irfcil 

it/ion  ■H'ithoiitiu  If  uilc(j\in'c  mfoi  mation  •■(  tic  tcymshaviii:  b>:t!i  tadhnV' 
izcd  liy  that govevnmnnt."     Liutud  hlaics  Gazette,  Ucceiubtr  li,  1809. 


Now,  mv  dear  reader,  ^vhoever  von  be,  tliat  have 
comti  thus  far  with  nie,  let  uic  iolcninly  invoke  yon 
in  the  name  ot  the  Go.i  ot  peace,  to  make  a  paufc 
l^erc.  As  vou  vahic  your  bclo\ed  countrv---as  y(;ii 
prize  its  honour--. its  happincfs-.-your  own  wcifaic--- 
tlic  happint'ls,  jijic  wcllaiv:  oi  vcnir  poflerity-.-icvicw  this 
whole  fuhjc6t.  I  mull  orcc  more  bring  it  bciojc 
your  eyes. 

An  envoy  exltaordinary  and  miniftcr  j)lcnipotfn!i. 
ary  informs  the  gnvernmL'.it  by  which  he  is  accredited, 
that  he  has  orders  to  propofc  an  arrangement  oi  two 
or  three  leading  points  ot  difference  between  the  two 
toiintries,  preparatory  to  a  treaty.  His  overtmes  are 
accented.*  An  arrangement  is  made,  which  is  highly 
advantageous  to  both  nations,  but  moie  paitieularK  to 
that  of  the  envoy  There  is  not  the  {lightelt  facrificc 
of  its  honour  or  inteieft.  Alter  this  arrangement  is 
made,  we  are  alfured  ten  th.onfand  times  that  Enir. 
land  had  been  always  ready  tf)  arrange  our  dilFcrenccs 
on  thefc  very  terms.  The  United  States  Ga/ette  ex- 
prefsly  ftates  that  "(he  h:vi  rcqueftcd  Mr.  Jefieifon 
to  do  the  fame  thing.''---And  yet,  when  the  arrange- 
inent  is  rejecled,  the  fame  United  States  Gazette  af- 
ferts  that  this  envoy  extraordinary  had  no  powers  to 
make  the  conventio  i--.detends  England  for  tlv  bieaeh 
of  her  engagement-. -and  as  I  have  already  ftated, 
tiansters  the  odium  to  its  own  government.  No  pow- 
ers of  language  arc  adequate  to  cxprefs  my  alionifli- 
mcnt.  *■ 


*•  No  expression  Ins  escjipe«l  any  member  of  (lie  British  cabinet, 
eitln'i'  in  parliament  or  elsuwlierc,  making  indecorous  insinunlions 
against  tlu"  United  Slnl'.s,  or  ninnifesting  a  teni])t;r  nnlViendly  to  rniu'iii- 
ation.  On  tin-  contnuy  llity  have  dcclare«l  a  tvish  to  rene-w  iiinicahle 
ite^odation  ;  have  named  v^  itjinistcr  for  lliat  pur;iose  ;  and  with  at  Jeast 


N«<i«i>» 


IIIF,    OMVE  nilAXCU. 


168 


1 


^ppnronl  s'mcprlty  have  i  xi)ir':<i(<l  tlu  li-  f  .nrs  tlirt  '\\'<i  iinfoi'tnnalc  rrnr 
of  Mr  F.rskiiic  niuy  iiicrcMsc  Ihr  <litfitiilti(.'s  (if  h  Inemliy  iratigi  incut 
between  iIk-  c(»ii  iirit-s  "     liitni.  Oct.  5,  180'J. 

•'  Wliat  was  bill  n  few  "lays  jttro  a  (lonbtt'nl  point,  !<!  now  <ii>ulcil  hy 
ilic  puhliciUion  f)f  Mr  F.rsk"i«!'s  insti-uotiotis.  Swfflcient  i-i  ormrtioii 
li  is  Ijct.'M  |-fciiv«d  lo  convmi'i'  11  cand'nl  [ii'sfjus,  l):«t  ilie  raMi'im-  wil!i 
wli.ili  tlti'  Knfjlisli  caljinct  lius  liceii  ])nisMcil,  mn!  (lie  violent  nliuc  witli 
.iliirli  it  li;ts  1)1  »'ii  iis«;.iU(!,  \\:\%  itudescyvcil  V^' o  t!o  liot  rnicrtnin  a 
(loiil)!  wlien  hII  tiie  circninsmnic-  sJiJili  li-.ive  hccn  disci  -ed,  thjit  !t  wilf 
afilif^iir  that  sfcrefnif  Sm  I'l  actunlhi  sn-.v  F.y}!kiii''''9  iii'itvuctiovr,  and 
till  till- arr(in::fmt'>tt  •iL'.ia  vvitlf  merry  as  an  c.vfte- tmrnt  \\  o  'eel 
coifidiiii  that  till*  liiMiii  vil.  lie  put  u,ioii  this  (oothix;  li  then  the 
Uiii.ed  States  wll  if  'jhitiMlely  injui  <  (I  hy  tiic  :i>l.  tfifif  wil'  judge 
vh'i'e  thr  LUiine  lies  "     Ft  ilt-iiti  Rtpublican,  July  '27.  I!l  ;*). 

"  The  peof>/f  have  bfftt  J!iis'rinit''f  leceivfd.  and  vro^shj  nh^'fi^d  — 
T''-  in  Iter  rcits  ()•  t-xVi-n  .l/i"  I'Wfihf.ie  and  uiir  iidruiur:<  nth.u  — . 
\\  lnicvcr  th  l)l;inie  sliali  jtitHth,  it  is  lor  lliu  pcojile  lu  »i)|>ly  or  oii-i- 
iiatc  the  remciiy   *     Idtni,  .liil\  31 

"  In  nh'ttt,  .l/r  Krskiiie  surrendcrt  d  event  thing,  and  got  tiothing  in 


return 


Ibid. 


«  Foi'  our  part,  -re  hdi'e  had  hut  one  opinianfrom  th"  commpucfment 
of  thin  })wsttri'ji!S  iiJJ\:ir — and  \\i  h;tVij  iniiile  Iwild  p)  (?;;!■(  .••..  ;t  It  is 
lli.i  .^/r  I]-  xh  no  aclcil  roritni  ii  fj  hit  inslrticliijnx — and  that  the  sec- 
ruturi/  Smith  kiiAw  whot  these  inslrttclions  were  "     Ihid. 

B'.'toie  I  offer  anv  coninient  on  the  four  1  '.(I  nriirlcs, 
1  wiili  to  llcito  to  tlic  rtMcler  that  I  b.tvc  cxtuclccl  li)cm 
!iu!P.  a  paniplilct  pubiidicd  bv  Mi  •  Nilos,  cailcil  "  Thinors 
as  they  are" — that  I  luivc  luul  no  o;>n'M>ii:Mty  ot  co!!r'.tin^ 
tlicm  wifli  the  oiiginils — but  that  I  li.ivc  wjittcn  to  Mr. 
Mdulc)..,  one  oi  the  F.ditois  of  the  I'edcul  Republican, 
locoired  mc  it  I  bad  mifqnotcd  bis  paper.  1  have  re- 
ceived no  reply — and  thcreiorc  it  is  to  be  prefinncd  tlie 
quotations  aic  correct. 

Mr.  Hanfon  H.ites  that  "  Mr.  Rrfune  furrrnd-^red 
roer\i  th\Hg,  and  got  nothing  m  return'^  Wuat  a  Ihi- 
peiiilous  difregaid  of  fai!:!:  is  embraced  in  tiiefe  few 
words  !  It  is  impofTible  to  exceed  it.  What  did  he  fur- 
reiider  ?  Merely  the  odious,  the  unjuft  orders  in  council  ! 
And  did  he  receive  nothing  in  return  ?  Was  the  im- 
menfe  trade  of  the  United  States  nothing  ?  Was  it 
nothing  to  perpetuate  the  non-intcrcourfc  with  France, 
till  Ihc  refcindcd  her  piratical   decrees  ?  1  aver  in  tiie 


11 


\t<i 


U4> 


THE    OLIVE    UHAXCII. 


fi!cc  of  this  nation,  and  detv  Mi.  Ildnfon  to  controvert 
the  tdft,  tli.it  Eiif;hin(l  gained  imnKMilely — atid  that  flie 
fnirciulcicd  n(;thin[T  hut  what  jiiHire  ou^ht  to  have  in- 
duced her  to  have  lurrendcred  long  befoie,  ot  lierown 
scccrd. 


"Kn 


"  I  ptitiPiit  my  fellow  citizens  to  jipcompany  me  a  liifle  fiirllu  r  in 
the  (  Xi.iiiinhlioii  nrdicsf  iiiVLC'liv<  s  «  liich  tlic  li  «(U'i8  of  «ii  imiTif  rni  jjvf. 
l_v  it!  tiilt  cdUir.iy  i»;c(  ir.iintli  iiKtM-  sjiRiii-^t  (JreHt  r'ritnin  for  tlie  imr- 
l)63e  of  e\»s;jtTaliiig  us  inlo  wm    '     U.  btul    Hht.  Oct.  18,    HOO 

"  Ifc  [Vr  r.rtkiiif]  nl«o  litcliirps  t1i:it  the  Eiitiph  joveriimrnt  h:ive 
tin'''mljt«?('ly  n  rif>,l»t  tndisavow  tin-  •;,'i'ti!n»ent ;  and  theii  hu-vf  tlotir  evrr^ 
t/iin.j  I, at  (ii'Ciniic  lui  hoiunn'tthh'  inUitti  to  prevent  evd  cons'-r/iiencc!: 
itrisiiij  to  ill.'  eiu/.ttis  of  tliis  «oii!itry  frcni  tinstii  ;4  to  llie  terms  of  llie 
agri'«.'mLMill)wiigrulfille(!."     U.S.  (j'az   (Jet.  3,  I80O. 

"  It  is  n  trutli  uliich  t!ie  widest  ai.d  I)'st  p.Ttriots  of  Amcvir.a  Jmve 
long  and  st  i  lously  d*  jjli.nd,  tlsnt  the  past  administrnlion  Uad  furvinli. 
ed  710  symptfim  tif  impart! ulity  het-Vfien  the  tivu  belligergvts  pvivions  10 
till  tct  iiiliil)iii:i,u;  (lie  L'lilraiicc  of  ofii-  ports  to  tlie  flnned  vesRcIs  (il'tlie 
otip  «s  \v  lias  of  the  oilier  I;i  (li.it  spirit  wliicli  .Mr  Smitli  still  ir- 
tuins.  hihI  now  Iubnnis  to  revive  in  the  bb>oni  of  Olivers,  hort-Hiii  to 
Kn^land  ard  lat/te  fuiiseTvienri/  to  Fiance,  are  Anoirn  to  /aue  btin  ili 
iharacteriat'e  fcctvres.  The  fjicts  are  in  the  pfissession  of  (very  inaii  ; 
Avliich  iJi  nve  tiiitt  llif  ferli;  sjs  of  thr  f;rtnt  boiiy  of  the  pro])lp,  id 
llxii-  le;*<!eis,  pri  S(  1M(I  ns  from  a  wiu-  in  Miiitii  «  cninplttf  su(C(  ss 
Moiihl  liuve  riveted  cliaiiis  ou  oursthesi."  L,S.G:>aelie  OclubtrlS, 
1  SU'J 

*'  It  will  he  (.h~y.  rved  that  this  sliow  of  words,  and  (hf.se  iipiivc 
.stateint-nts,  !i/ier  all,  h\  the  president,  served  only  to  inpki-  the  pii!  !;e 
btlieve,  lli.t  'J'^V  Ik:  had  no  reason  to  apprehend  ti  disuvu-iful.  lU-  Is 
not  l:krdv  (  nonsrli  to  say,  thul  iitidtr  tiie  ciicinuBtiinri's  ot  (lie  Ciisc, 
(Xji*"  l::e  Uri.is'i  j^'ovt  rumen  t  was  hnuiid  to  abide  hy  Ert-kiiw^s  nit  ;  ov 
lh«l  they  coii<lui:tpd  pei  fuliouxly  in  disavowing  it.  Yit  this  HSptisinii, 
one  of  (lie  most  injurious  aid  provoking  that  can  hv  iLrown  upon  a 
nation,  has  heen  uttered,  ami  inceshantly  rei»eated  Im  vi  Mial  n.ii.ili.^^, 
ill  every  deiuotratic  paper  in  the  uiiiou."     Idem,  December  20,  loO'J. 

"  Every  one  acknowlcd,«;c9,  th»t  Iiad  our  executive  concluded  (lie 
arrant'ieiiient  of  .\piil  last,  v\iih  Mr  Irskine,  know  injr  that  lie  was  iiw- 
authorised,  (lie  whole  nspoiisihility  frr  th-  conbe(iuences,  however  fsi- 
ilous,  Moidd  hare  rtnK'd  uimn  themselves.  It  has  been  maiiitained  liy 
the  editor  of  this  gazette,  aiul  is  no\»  deinonslraled  by  the  ii.dubidtliie 
anthnriii(.s,  adduced  by  ^1r  Dana,  ll.jit  (fj  to  have  done  so  •autlrjut 
ktimviiip^  that  he  was  aulhoriied,  tens  K/un/ly  unit  art atilaUe,  atid  ttfi  tht 
adinniisl ration  no  frround  on  xoliich  lo  claim  a  raiificatiov  of  the  prvcceo'irg 
bv  the  liritish  government.  Ji  is  prove i.  beyond  a  donbt,  thi.t  ijj  tlic 
.mivernn.ent  might,  with  just  as  mncli  jiropriety,  hi  ve  isjckd  with  ^(ll• 
eral  -Sm  tli,  or  any  other  individual  ,  coii<  1  J<!ed  a  corl^el■llOll  ;  pioiidi- 
cd  to  cuiry  i'.  into  cxeciitiou  011  their  phit  ;  and  llicn  niistd  a  claiiiOiii 


A.., 


'Hj^' 


'illK    OLIVB    URAXCU. 


16tf 


introvert 
tlut  (lie 
have  in- 
her  own 


f  fnrllii  !•  in 
01  the  luir- 

nmmt  hnvc 
rloiv  Ptrrtj 

erias  of  the 


mcrirn  have 
\ad  f'irvifh- 
\  yw  vioiis  to 
esut'l.'-  i>i  'lie 
lilli  still  ir- 
hoFtfUpi  to 
ate  btiH  ('<■ 
'  I  very  mnt!  ; 

lU'U'      SUCt(FS 

Octobtr  IS, 


use   Mpi'livc 
llic  ',>ii!  ix 
'ilCtll.      Ill-  i'' 

((''■s  <"  t  ;  <"■ 

OVM<  \\\:uU  .1 
Till  li.'.l.ili^, 
20,    loO'j. 


on 


cliul«il  tlie 

1,1'    WHS  UM- 

howt-vtr  ?c- 

liiituiiiiil  !>.»■ 

f  ii.tldli':'''''"-' 

50    Vith'jVi 

he  proctetliT'} 
tl.i-tOD  •'■'<= 

on  ;  i>iott.eil- 


f,i;hiii''l  llic  pnvcrnrftent  <if  (Jrent  Ri-itaiii  anfl  accused  them  of  perfn'v 
fli;()  l)>(!ucli  of  I  iitli  fot-  not  recognizing  and  tulfiliing  the  slipulutiwns.'' 
Idem,  U.;c.  JS,  tSU'J. 

<'  If,  as  asserted  i;y  Mr.  Krskinp,  his  power«  were  cnmmunicafed  t* 
eur  cal>inet  in  substance — if  lite  liiadg  of  .upaitnienti  liiil  early  coininu- 
liifiit"  to  tlje  lea<linf;  iiKn»ber«  of  botli  bvanclies  of  their  own  pohlicks, 
(^j'the  incomfx'teficy  of  his  trovers.  aiiJtheprobuhility  of  the  rejection 
cf  the  ne^refmeiit  hy  Great  Britain — then  ihal  &'ljnstrm'iit,  so  f-ir  from 
he.nti  a  proof  of  a  (huftosition  to  ii-ah  pence  mid  settle  mtr  ilij/'ei  eiiccs, 
Cj-  is  lilK  SIROXtiKSI  EVIDF.NIK  OF  A  MUSI  ILK  I  KM. 
I'KIl  .  because  Mr  Madison  knew,  (lud  tlie  revulsion  and  the  disap- 
jioinlniei.t  oiM-  isioned  by  it  among  our  ci  izens,  mouM  excite  new  tlaai- 
rirs  and  would  bi  cak  to  pieces  tiut  foimidable  idjaLmx  oi  men.  wlio, 
liuiiu;;  our  embarrassments,  had  learned  to  speak  and  tldnk  more  fa- 
rourabh,  and  of  course  mote  justiv,  of  Great  Britain."  Ideiu,  Decem- 
ber '.),  is(ty. 

"  If'^nrh  had  been  liis  aim  (and  perhaps  a  deeper  politician  docs  not 
•xlsl)  it  has  been  oompletf  ly  attMined.  Hisown  party  are  ag!«in  rouse<l 
to  a  war  pilch.  'J'  Encii  some  federahstH  are  open  in  their  censure  of 
(Jreat  Ilvitain  fuv  Q^''  uoino  ii!.h  hutv  to  iiKuski^,  and  cxerc  sing 
aright  we  hav  always  claimed  and  rcceivid;  and  other  fedvralists 
tioidn,  Rud  are  in   fnvour  of  wailing  lo  hi  ar  Mr.   Krskine's  explanations, 

ruui     Jj^sriLt.    Pll«i!>0-ti     To    rLAC£  AN     ill     ULSKllViSU    CO^riULNCli    IN 


UR.    MAUlhOS. 


liiem. 


Oil  this  lafl  })aragrapk  I  fliall  make  but  one  ob- 
fcrvation,  to  wbi<  h  I  (C.quefl:  attention.  It  is,  tli.a  -ic- 
coiding  to  the  Uniu-ci  St-dJ-s  Gazette,  it  was  in  De- 
ceinhcr  grT  "  THE  Du  iy"  of  Engi-and  "  ra  mkr- 
SELL,"  to  rejert  an  arranjienient  which  the  I'ariK'  G.z<Mtc 
In  A')nl  (Kited,  ihe  had  rcrcatedly  in  vain  prc(red  on  xVIr. 
JcfR'iion!  !  ! 

I  could  fiil  a  Folio  vobime  with  thefe  frothy,  elab  ,ate 
and  anti  A'nerir.?ii  defences  of  the  U.;til!i,  ,tiid  iicij- 
P'it oiis  oi  the  United  States  ^overnnient.  But  I  feel 
Idlisficd  tliat  1  iiave  done  cnoujrii  ;  d\u\  that  ti^.e  is  none 
but  the  wiHuliy  blind  can  deny  that  mo  caiile  ever  could 
b(>ail  ol  more  ardent,  moie  zeilnus,  more  i)»dul\r!oiis 
advocates  ti;  ui  t'C  cauCe  of  Gi\>dt  Britain  has  cxpr-  ienced 
in  Bolton,  New-York  .ml  Pailidelphia—and  VuW  there 
ncvvi  was  <m  adminiilritioM  pmTued  with  moie  rv:-ino' f'e- 
l^oG,  virulence  and  with  lels  ferublance  of  julhcc  than  Mr. 
'4(111  iibn':5  iias  been. 


't 


t 


KM 


'..^W^BW^^j 


V 


160 


THE   OLIVE  BRANCH. 


CMAr.  XX. 


;« ' 


Impressment  of  tlmericun  Seav.ien. 

riea  nf  Jawer,  Mttllson.      Of  John  ({itiiici/  Jlclams.     Of 
hill.  Cobbet.     Of  Jteei'v(i/  Jiegister. 

All  idea  is  very  prevalent  that  the  imprefTmcnt  of  our 
fcamcn  by  ih.e  Britilh  veifels  ot  war  is  a  grievance  of 
little  moment,  to  whicli  the  malice  cntcitained  by  our 
adminiliration  againfl  England,  has  attached  an  impor- 
tance ot  which  it  is  utterly  nndeferving.  Hundreds  ot 
thouf.inds  of  our  citizens  have  been  duped  into  the  be- 
lief  that  tliis  item  of  grievance  was  created  under  Mr. 
JefFcrfon,  or  at  Icafl  incalculably  exaggciiited  by  him  and 
his  fucccin^r.  Never  was  there  a  more  egregious  error. 
Never  was  fraud  more  fuccelstul  in  propagating —  never 
was  tatuitous  crcdul!(\'  more  drcrived  ni  bchcvuig,  a  laic 
as  totciffij  tiomthe  trr.th  as  Eicbus  is  fiom  heaven. 

Mr.  Madilon  has  been  ten  tiiouiand  times  curfed  for 
bis  tolly  and  wickednels  in  involving  the  country  in  war 
ioi  t!ic  purpoft-  ol  feciuing  a  few  ieamen,  who  are  laid  to 
be  vagabond  Erigliih,and  Iiilli.and  SctJtchmen,  the  Icum 
of  the  caith,  from  the  claims  of  their  lawful  prince.  It 
has  been  alleited  that  few  or  none  ot  the  citizens  ot  this 
country  are  impieiled — that  when  lucli  an  acc'tdfiit  tdkfA 
place,  redrefs  is  eafv  to  be  had — and  fuither,  that  England 
is,  and  has  at  all  times  been,  ready  to  make  any  arriui/rc- 
ment  whereby  our  failois  may  be  guarded  againll  imprelf- 
nicnt,  provided  Ihc  can  be  fecuied  againfl  the  lofs  ot  hers. 

Fiom  the  commencement  of  the  war  of  the  French 
revolution  to  the  late  declaration  of  bottilitics  this  was 
a  cond.mt.  uncoahug  fubjc6>  ot  reclamation  and  com- 
plaiiU  to  the  Britilh  government,  as  well  urider  the 
adnuniftrc'.tion  of  General  Wafliington,  and  Mi.  Adams, 
as  utiucr  tii.it  of  ?\l! .  Ji  tfcrfon  and  Mr,  Madi-'Mi.  And 
difgracclul  and  dithonourablc  would  it  liav-   ».       .  to  any 


t 


--4ltm^~ 


C'rt... 


THE    OLIVE   nHAXCM. 


407 


oi  the  prcTulen'i?,  had  they  l)ccn  deaf  to  the  complaints, 
and  callous  to  tlic  fufR* rings,  ot"  the  Amci  ican  Haves, 
iloicn  by  violence  and  rapine  trom  their  taniilics,  and 
iiiends,  and  IVccdom,  and  beloved  country,  to  fight  the 
battles  ot  their  cnflavers. 

"The  practice  has  no  parallel,  eitlicr  for  atrocity 
or  extent,  in  anv  thing  ot  modern  times,  hut  the  !>ufi. 
ncfs  of  nc^io  dealing  on  t!ie  coafls  of  untortunjte 
Africa."* 

1  fubmit  to  the  reader  the  i'oMowing  elorvicnt  and  un- 
anfu'crable  pleas  again  ft  this  nefarious  pradice.  They 
lo  far  tianfccnd  any  thing  I  could  niylelf  write  on  the 
fiilije'^,  that  I  {h  dl  d-derve  tli.'.nk.s  for  I'paring  my  own, 
and  fubftituting  thefc  lucubrations. 


From  thp  instructionfi  of  Jumea  Mudison.  Enc/r  St'crptnri/ 
of  State,  to  JnnxPi  tMitnroc,  Esq".  JMinisi^r  rUniyoteii- 
tiary  at  the  Court  of  London. 

"Were  it  allowable  that  Britifh  fuhjefls  flionld  be 
taken  out  of  Aaierican  veilels  o?^  the  high  feas,  it 
might  at  leaft  be  recpiired  that  ^  :ke  proof  0/  their 
alUpiance  fJwuld  be  on  the  IhitifJi  fide.  This  obvious 
and  j aft  rule  is  however  revcrled.  And  every  feamaii 
on  board,  though    going   trom   an   American   pojt,  fail- 


IIH 


unaer    an 


A 


metican 


fl 


a? 


an 


d    (omctimes    eve 


n 


fpeaking  an  idiom  proving  him  not  to  be  a  B'-itilh  fub- 
je'l,  is  prefumed  to  be  fuch,  ^^  unlefi  proven  to  be 
an  American  citizen.  It  may  be  fately  afhimed,  that 
^  this  is  an  outrac^e  rvhch  has  jw  precedent,  and 
hich  Great  Britain  would  be  among  tiie  laft  nations 
the  world  to   fuffer,  if  offered  to  her  own  fubjeds, 


w 
in 


and  her  own  ilag. 


"  Great  Britain  has  the  lefs  to  fay  on  the  fubjefl 
as  it  is  in  Cif  dired  confradiclion  to  the  principles  on 
which  flie  proceeds  in  other  caps.  WhiHt  (he  claims 
and  feizes  on  the  high  feas,  her  own  fuhjetls  volmi- 
tarily  ferving    m   Ametican   velfels,    flie  has   conftant- 

•  Wceklr  R(K!ster. 


t 


108 


THG    OLIVC    BRAKCU. 


-r'l! 


ly  given,  when  flic  could  give  as  a  rcafon  for  not  dil- 
chargiii,!,^    trorn    her     fervitc    American    citizens,    tiiat 


tl 


icy 


U<\ 


vohn: 


taiii^ 


cniiMgccl     HI     It. 


N 


av    more. 


Cir  zii/:(I/^    JJie     7mpr(/ft:s    her    ozun    jubje&s   jrotn    th 


u 


Atncncan  /I'lvicc,  alikou;ih  they  may  have,  bctn  jhtlcd^ 
and  married^  and  naturalized  tn  the  United  i)tai^'.s, 
Jhe  con/iantly  refufts  to  ultaje  from  hers,  /American  sea- 
man preJJ'ed  into  it  whenever  fhc  can  give  for  a  reafon, 
that  thev  either  settled  or  married  ivithin  Jicr  dominions, 
Thus  01r  ivhen  the  voluntary  confent  cf  the  individual 
favours  her  pretcnjions^  JJie  pleads  the  vabdity  of  that 
confent.  1^  IHien  the  voluntary  confent  oj  the  indivi- 
dual llandi  in   the   way    of   her  pretenfionSy  it  goes   for 


notlh 


ng. 


grS"    H^hen    marriage    or    lepdnue    can 


hi 


pleaded  in  her  favour,  jhe  avails  herfelf  of  the  plea, 
(JrS"  When  marriage,  rcfidenre,  and  n^tinal  zalion  are 
a^nnni  her,  no  refpefl  ruhafever  is  f)'iid  to  enher. 
^  She  takes,  by  force,  hfr  owf  fubjecls  vnlunlm  /y 
ferving  vi  out  vrffels.  ^' She  keeps  bv  fovie  '-f'/inuin 
citizens    invi)/untanly   feivng    in   her's.     More  Jlagi ant 


■'Ml 


lUiO n  I  ten cies  ca n n 


ot  be 


imai'iHtL 


From  a  Letter  of  John   (luincy  Jid-nn^.  Esqr.   to  Jlar- 
riann   Gray   Otis,    Esqr. 

*•  Tlif  iiTipreHl'd  American  citizens,  however,  nnon 
di/lv  authenticated  /) roof  <{rc  delivejcd  up.  IikI(C!1! 
hmv  un  eafonable  then  were  complaint  !  how  •'ffcct'iu 
a  reme.'lv  lor  the  wronc;  !  an  Aniencan  vell'el,  bound 
to  a  Europran  port,  has  two,  three,  or  tour  n;it'vc 
A"'i«"rirans,  imprelled  hv  a  Butifh  man  oi  war,  bf)r.iid 
to  the  Edl  or  Weft  Indies.  When  the  Aiuericrin  cap- 
tain arrives  at  his  port  of  deftination,  he  makes  bis  pio- 
teft,  and  fends  it  to  the  neareft  American  Mimfter  or 
conful.  When  be  returns  home,  be  tranhnits  tlie  du- 
plicate of  his  pc  '^ft  i>  the  Secretary  of  State.  In 
ptorr^'s  of  time,  t;ie  names  of  t!  3  imprelfed  men,  and 
of  tlie  (hip  into  =%'idrh  tliev  have  been  imprefled,  arc 
received  by  the  agent  in  London  He  makes  his  dc' 
mand  that  the  men  may  be  delivered  up — the  lords  or 


ii 


THE    OLIVE    IIUANCMI. 


i(i9 


(lie  aJmiraliy,  alter  a  confiilcrahlc  time  for  enquiry  and 
advilcincnt,  return  for  anfwcr,  tint  tlic  (hip  is  on  a 
foreign  ftation,  and  their  l()rdlliij)s  can  therefore  take 
no  further  fleps  in  the  matter — u',  that  the  Unp  hns 
l)cen  taken,  and  thai  the  men  hdve  been  icceived  in 
exchange  for  French  prifoners — or,  that  they  had  no 
protettions  (the  imprefling  officers  otten  liaving  Liken 
ihem  from  the  men) — or,  that  the  men  were  probcu 
I'ly  Britilh  fnhj.-cts  ;  or,  th.it  they  had  entered,  and 
taken  the  bounty  ;  (to  which  tlie  oflicers  know  how 
to  reduce  them) — or,  that  they  have  been  married,  or 
fettled  in  England.  In  all  thefe  cafes,  without  fuither 
ceremony,  their  difcnarge  is  refufed.  Sometunes,  tieir 
lordlhips,  in  a  vein  of  humour,  inlorm  the  agent  that 
the  man  has  been  difcharged  as  unsfrvicfuble.  Some- 
times, in  a  fterner  tone,  they  fay  lie  was  an  impojlor. 
Or  perhaps,  by  way  of  confolation  to  his  relatives  ,i;id 
friends,  they  report  that  he  had  fallen  in  battle,  againft 
iidtioiis  in  amity  with  Ins  cormtry.  Sometimes  they 
coolly  returii  that  there  is  no  juck  man  on  board  the 
jJup :  and  what  has  become  of  him,  the  agonies  of  a 
wile  and  children  ni  his  native  land  may  be  left  to 
co'jerture.  When  all  thefe  and  many  other  fuch 
apol  tgies  for  refufal  fail,  tiie  native  American  feamari 
is  difcharged — and  when  by  the  chaiitable  aid  of  iiis 
government  he  has  found  his  way  home,  he  comes  to 
be  informed,  tnat  all  is  as  it  fho  iM  be — that  the  num- 
ber of  his  fellow-fufrereis  is  fmall- — that  it  was  im- 
pofrible  to  difliniHiilh  him  fron  an  Eiiirlilhinan — and 
that  he  was  delivered  up,  on  did\  autiienlxcatcd  prooj  V 

Extract  from  CobbeWs  Register. 

"  Our  fliips  of  war,  when  tliey  meet  an  American 
vcITel  at  fea,  board  lier,  and  take  ort  of  her  b\  force, 
aiiv  feamen  whom  our  oflirers  afFert  to  be  Britifli 
fiibjetls.  Thfre  is  no  rule  bv  which  tJifv  are  hound. 
li'if.v  aSi  at  difcrction  :  and  the  confecpience  is,  that 
c^  great  numbers  oj  native  Americans  have  been  thus 
15 


)ii 


I 


—  > 


^^A-^Mi.  . 


irt 


IIIB    OI.IVR   nnANGH. 


■41 


impreffKii^  and  Q'r  greai  niimhi'rs  of  tJ>f.m  are  now  in 
our  iic4h<\>.  The  totil  iiumfior  lb  lnlf|  at  anyone  tiiiic 
cannot,  pcilutj)s,  be  arcoitdincd  ;  hut  ftom  a  jiateiwnt 
pnhbshed  in  /Imenca  it  apprcus  that  Mr.  Lyman,  tlie 
late  confnl  here,  jlatrj  thr  nn/nhr.r,  about  /no  yfnn 
ago,  at  FOURTELN  THOUSAND  i^r  Ihat  n,nny 
flj  thi'/e  nu:n  have  dicil  on  board  of  out  Pups — that 
many   have  been,    rcountb-d — that  many  have  br-'.n  k:L<:d 

in  adion and  that   many   hove  t)een   xro)  a   out  in  llie 

servile,  there  mn  be  no  doubt.  Some  ohtain  their  rc- 
le.ife  tliioi.it^h  tlie  apptieui(Mi  of  the  Atnciican  conful 
luMe  ;  and  of  thefc  the  (ufTLrinirs  h.ive  ni  inanv  mlhinccs 
hev'n  ver\'  g'e.it.  There  have  heen  innmces  wheie  iien 
li.ive  thus  got  free  gdi'  after  having  heen  J/ooiU'd  thtou^s^k 
the  fleet  for  defertion. 

"  But  it  has  been  afkcd  wliether  we  are  not  to  tike  our 
failors  where  we  find  tuem  i^  To  which  America  anlu'crs 
yer,,  but  take  onlv  ycur  own  ;  "  take,^'  faid  Mr.  L\  ni.in, 
"  your  whole  pound  of  fh'jli,  but  take  not  a  drop  of  hlood.'" 
She  favs  th.jt  Ihe  wiihes  not  to  have  in  her  iliips  ritiy 
Britidi  lai'ors,  and  Ihe  is  wilhnjJtt^  give  them  up,  when- 
ever the  ta6l  ot  theii  being  Biitilli  lailois  c<u)  be  proved. 
Let  them,  Ihe  lays,  be  brought  hetore  any  magi  Urate,  or 
any  juihlic  civd  authority,  in  anv  one  of  \()in'  own 
poits,  at  home  or  abroad  ;  and  llie  is  wiljmg  to  nhidc'  by 
liie  decifion.  (jr^"  Bur,  let  not  men  be  feized  in  her  Ihips 
upon  the  liigh  leas  (and  fbmetimes  at  tlie  moutlis  of  lu'r 
own  rivers)  whrie  there  is  nobody  to  judge  between  the 
parties,  and  (j:t5°  where  the  Bi'tdh  otlicer  gotnc  on  boird 
is  at  on^e  ACCUSER,  WITNESS.  JUDGE,  and 
CAPTOR." 


L)     ) 


From  J\''ilei>'s  JFcehli/  Bigister,  vol.  3,  jinge  303. 

"  If  tlie  mod  dignified  officer  in  tlie  naval  fervice 
of  our  enemy  were  to  plundet  neutral  veflels  of  a  box 
of  codfifli,  or  a  bale  of  cotton,  on  fufpicion  that  it 
was  even  enemy's  property,  it  might  coff  him  Ins 
wliols  fortune,    with    an    ignominious    difmifral.     The 


\ 


^ 


TlIK    OLIVE   BIlANCir. 


in 


law  of  nations  allows  liim  to  fend  in  tlic  vcflol  tor  ad- 
jiulic.tttcjii,  cJiid  it  becomes  Ijim  to  prove  tie  taH  lic 
lulpeded  U  he  tails  in  tins,  he  is  olten  nuilrted 
ill  heavy  da  n.j;T,:s  hv  the  eouits  (.A  law  ot  his  own 
country.  Hut  in  tiu*  hulincls  ol  nian-jlculinp^,  he  iiiin- 
ft'it  is  juflive  and  jntv  —  lie  takes  when  and  where  he 
picafes,  and  is  irre(|)on(il)le  toi  his  coiuhK^t.  It  com- 
pliuit  is  ni  ide,  he  liien^  es  it  hv  the  brt)ad  {)lea,  "■  thnl 
hu  mujfji)'  xcaiitej  nit'ii' --.dWiX,  it  tiie  in.iii  llolen  is 
reltoua  to  libeity  alter  years  ot  dangers  anrl  (ervitadc, 
without  one  cenr  toi  his  hazards  awX  toils,  there  fire 
knaves  who  produce  his  cafe  ni  evidence  ol  "  Btihjh 
VLigiianiiiiity  !" 

ATter  the  reader  has  carefully  pernfed  the  preceding 
ar!;ii!nents.  I  recjueft  he  will  read  and  ccMTipaie  the  fci.- 
tiinents  of  Mr.  Pickering  on  the  fnhje-l-  ot  nnpielf- 
inent  at  two  different  periods,  tiic  firll  when  he  was  fcc- 
rctaiy  of  ft-.te,  and  the  fecond  when  he  was  fenator  of 
the  United  States. 


Oct.  2f>.  iron 

"  Tlw  Bniish  niviil  ojfici-vs  ofl- 
1<'U  •m/ffsfi  'Siwdfn,  f}<in->i.  iiiiil 
9they  .  ■iieiq'nrfs  from  thr  vcsyef-i  of 
t!f  (Till ifil  Stales  T/irii  /tux-'-  eTi-n 
■s-iinelimes  impressed  Fi  enchiniii  !! 
\\  III  I'u  .sliuiilil  lie  ti.iie  to  i))!tko 
out  Uk"  coj)y  of  a  pt(itt!sl  L«ti'ly 
iviiivrd  it  sli  .11  he  ewclusiMl,  dcs- 
cnl>im  I  lie  imUveas  of  a  Dune  and 
c.  /'ortitfi'iif'se  '  riiis  sillily  i.  mu 
::l)  iSi.  i;iss  Id  cofri'd.  'l^lt<'it  Cull- 
nut  jnetend  an  nab  litrj  to  iliatin- 
Ifnis/i  t  es''  /(!">•  ;^n  rs  foin  tliur 
u\i)it  su  ■/nets  'I'lieii  m  ^1/  icit'i  as 
lU'vIt  .ratoit  roli.invi  can  x'i'ss  lit 
(if  ike  pro'h'rly  or  til'  :  chuiid:Zfi  of 
ii  e  •Siued.",  DauKS,  or"  I'urtnc^in'xe. 
lis    eize  ij  detain  iii  their  service 


"  It   is    pnTi'ct'}'    wi'll     known 

lli:it     (illl  AT    IJuITaIV    KV.SIlti;        ID 

oHTAiv     ovi.jr     iii.:i     o\v.\     sijii- 

JKCTS* 

"  Tlie  evil  Wi;  complain  of  arise"} 
from  tfie  iin/iossi/iiiitif  of  al-waijs 
idsiinq-uishtii^-  t  e  f>i:r  ons  of  two 
iiitions  wild  a  ftw  jt:ais  si.ict  wcie 
OIK'  pcojik'.  vvlm  txlntiit  t  lit-  sntue 
lUMiiiiirs.  speak  till'  s.'iim-  la  ^iii^e, 
ami  possess  siiuiln-  tentiifL's  j" 

*'  I  In.'  nriiisli  bl.i[)^  «<i  war, 
:i;^i'cfMl)ly  to  a  rif^lit  cl:iiint'il  and 
cMTcisi'ii  fof  afjcs — a  iij;lit  clHiin- 
ed  Mild  L'xei  ciscd  iliiiinj;-  ih(; 
whole  of  ll.e  !i<liiiiiiisti  atioiis  of 
VV'isli;njj^:oii,  of  Ndiiiis  and  of 
.!(  fl'.  rso'i  coiitiniii-  to  t;  ki  some 
of  the  Br  tish   smmen  found  on 


I 


*  Liter   lioin     riinolliv    Pick-  •    l.ctti-r  frmn    I  iiuothy    I'ickrr- 

cfiii^'    Ks(|:-     si'cretaiN      f  siat..   to  inp;  to  liie     lloi      James   Suil.vaii, 

KtKiis  Iv, .!>;;,       sqi-.   luiiiiblei' at  the  romihoi-   ol         asbachuselts,    p:ig« 

court  of  LoiiUoii.  9     Teb.  16,  18US.  t  11"^'' 


.  ^Si 


ir;3 


THE  OLIVP.  BRANCH. 


(        A 


t/ie  Ku/'jict/i  of  l/ionenntionn/'jiitid  boitnl  our  merchimt  vfiif!t,  and 

ijti  fio,nit .  hill  I  iciin  ivssela.     'I'lic  ^vill^   tlirin    *   small  mmiimi    (,i 

pi't'tiil' iit     iH     iMfiniily     ini\ioti8  uuis,  liom  thk  mi'«tssiiiii,n  v  oi' 

to  have  iIiIh   Ijiisiiu'ss   of    iiii|iic8S  always      iustinui  i<iiiiN(i      Ivik.. 

placcU  uti  a  I'casoiiul'lu  luoiiiig."  M!tii.M:.:<   riioM    cirizuMs    ur  Tiu; 

I'.NJTLi)    STATKS."^ 

1   Idem   13. 


On  tlicfe  incotififlcnt  papers  I  v)frcr  no  coiTinient. 
It  would  be  an  aflrout  to  the  puljlic.  He  Miat  runs 
may  read. 


tU\P.  \XI. 


Tnipressuifnt  Jurin^'  ihe  (tdminliiraiiuu  of  General  ff'ash- 
■ih:;^to}i.  Letter  from  T.  Jcji'.nion  to  T.  rhihucy, 
('"rinii  J^lr.  ..'.n/  to  l.urd  GrenviUe.  From  T.  I'icL- 
erino;  to  Itufuii  K'iu^\  From  liufus  King  to  lord 
GreKvilU'. 

Kji'tract  (if  a  L, iter  froin  T.  Ji'ffi'n^on^  Esq.  secreiary  nf 
St(iti\  to  T/iom(ifi  Finkney.,  minister  ylenipotentiurj 
fif  the  Unii'd  States  at  London, 


Ifk- 


Dcfjavftnnit  of  S/ntc,  Jimc  11,  \79\ 
"  "i  1  c  |ec!iV,.ii"  (iistom  in  l'i;;^l;iiiil  o'  iinpreisiiif^  sriuncn  on  cvri  v 
•  f-jil't  ti!)  ue  of  wwr,  will  occiisifmaliy  expost-  our  8<  union  to  peculiar 
ojiprcs^iDiis  :ii,<l  vi'MitioDS.  It  will  be  expciliei.t  tliat  jou  lake  pio- 
tier  oj'portuii  tit  f,  in  llie  mefln  time,  of  confrriiitf;  with  tlie  minisim 
f»;i  ttiiti  sul)jt!i;l,  in  oidi-r  to  lonn  some  an'anf^cnient  loi  tlie  piotic- 
tioii  of  oiif  sinmcii  o!i  tlioso  occasions.  W  e  eiuii'iiy  njcct  the  iiki'c 
\*!iic!i  Miisllic  sulijccl  of  CO  vcrv;  lion  between  Mr.  Monis  an<l  biin 
\>  bicli  was,  t!i:it  our  .seiunen  sbmuil  ;.l\va\s  carry  i.bout  tlieni  ccrtili- 
i.;tles  of  their  titizensbip.  'I'iiis  is  a  conilition  never  yet  snbniiilcil 
10  by  any  nation  ;  one  willi  whiclj  seinien  wonUI  never  htve  liie  pic- 
cautionto  C0iiiiil> — the  cisiitslties  ot' their  calling  would  expo.se  them 
to  till-  coiis'iint  '.(estnie(i'):i  or  loss  o  this  j):iper  evidence  ;  and  t/in' 
the  liriti-Ji  q'ov^viunfiit  u- ,u'd  be  armed  with  \ef^n\  .•tuthonty  to  inipm^ 
tha -u'h'jle  of  ou"  seamen  I'lie  sintplest  rule  will  be,  that  ihe  vessi  1 
bting  .\i,iLiican,  shall  be  e\idenco  that  the  seamen  on  board  of  her 
nre  such  IT  th.y  apprehend  that  our  vessels  might  thus  become 
jisylnms  tor  t!ie  i'ji^i'ivLS  of  their  own  nation  from  impress  gangs, 
the  nunilur  of  r.itn  t'j  he  iirotictctl  by  a  vessel  m.iy  be  liniited  by 
her  tonnage,  and  one  or  two  niliccrs  oidy  be  permitted  to  ei  ter  the 
vessel  in  ordci'  to  e.vumine  (h.'j   nnmber  ;  bnt  ?je  /j/vj?  3-anci'  should  h'- 


in&    OLIVE   AHANCH. 


173 


'ill 


It'll  rver  to  :*o  on  fionvti  nn  ^tmevicni  vftufl,  till  after  it  sfmli  le 
>.t   th  If    ti'ieie  iiif  iH'ji  r   ihiiii  tuc  alipiilii  f     tiumfif-  un  /r,i,ril  ni»r 

ll,    lit     r  l!lL*     IIMSdT  bll  <tl    lli«V<      :  Ulll-.fil  to    ililivtT    ttli      hll)K  I  lllllMfl'UI  II  i 

to  1)1'  MHiii- il  hv  liiiiijicit  )  o  llic  picRS  <iirin  r  wlio  Iimh  touu  nil  IiimiiI 
!•  tlitl  |iur|i  iM-  ;  iihd  (■  on  thru  tlie  ViriLrictii  vo'isul  •liitll  be  cnlli(| 
1      I.  oi'flv    lo  iirj;     H    mH't'iiKMit  nf  lliis  imint    Ix  Ibi  f  ;»  I'lW    on- 1^  on 


t  III  1%    iifi'  Itc  ■itni'-s  Im  ilriw  tlnii'  nttiiii.«»ii  in  //«?  /icr »/'/(;»• 
il'tJ'iii  e.rc  t-il  on  tlif  liint   uccunion    unit  tfif  liifflitilii/  of  uv  ulmj 


■IfISC 


iiiir  mukiuq  imtiufil  nte  repi 


in  tli 


'tt'fv  tcuitn  n 


lifve      N  nil  «  ill  \\'   h<> 


i;'i(i  I  as  t>>  ciiiiiiiitiiiKMtc  In  lilt-  wliir  slitill  |>iihh  (hi  tliin  hiiliji'it.  hihI  it 
ma  >>•'  iiukde  Rii  ailiilu  ul'  conVLiitioii  lu  be  ciileiLiI  ihUi  LitlKr  there 
oi  iivrc." 


MIT    to    lord 


From  the  mmp  to  the  same. 


I  rn<Io«r   ynii  a  t'n|>>  o'   «  ItMler  fiom  M»'(»>!r'»    Bl 


•       I  III  I    \]i  iIi'kK 

(In,  ini'rcliiintn   <>l   Vncii!!),  ( )|iliiinitii;  «il   thet.ikii  ;  aMny  <>>   tluir 

Uriii»li  .11  Micd 
'  II    )H  i|<iite 


t  IIHII  S,   () 


II    tilt'    CO     N(    (l(°    Atl'll  M,   llV    till     (  IMlllll.inill'l 


Itl-    sill 


V(  s-*i't  So  'ifiiiy  niiliincft  of  llui  kind  /line  lid/iptni  d, 
n<'irsi.ii\  (lii-ir  uoM'i'iiin' III  sli  iiil.l  «'X|rii:ii  iIiiiiik' 
j'(",  il  till  lie  Ifit  III  <|is->vov»  .iimI  |miiii>Ii  hik  Ii  ("tnliMi  I  li  .itc  to 
i,iiiir  ilisrifiioii  to  I'luli'ikviiiii  In  nhiain  iliiti  K.iiisr..4'li«M>  li\  him  It 
till  Hilly  ilii('ii>si<iii  iiM  1)1. ty  )••  iiKisl  likrly  lo  imdJuii  ihrilisiml 
fflTci'i,  ami  KC(iiii'(i>  niir  riiiiiiiiii  i  r  llitl  |i>  nltil  inn  ii^miisl  lliiiisli 
VIII  (III  r,  mIikIi  II  liaH  iiivt  i  i-\|i<  ihim  eil  iiiin  any  nllit  r  nilinii  No 
LiA  fiirltiiU  l||i  HIMIII1II  of  .my  iiaiinn,  in  t'ii;;''i:i'  in  liiiii'  nC  piiK  < ,  nil 
ii.iaiil  a  fiii('i;ii  v(!<>fl:  iinl.it\  an  lii)n/.i"<  siii  It  s«'.,iii,iii  inlmalt  Ins 
diiiirai  I    imi' I li>.' .ti'iiifil  vessels   <il'  Ins  nation    to   in(ci|iut>c   Iwict'  tur 


i8  I't'acuc. 


From  the.  S'tmi'  to  the  same. 


Nnv.  6,  I7f)'2. 


"' I  inrloif  yoti  now  llu-  rniiy  of  «  Icllci'  from  Mr  Pinlard.  our 
cniisdl  tt  M  ii^i'ira,  fxliiliit  in:;  aii.iihcr  aUfiii)>l  al  tin-  practio  oti 
«lii  II  I  «rnl.'  In  ynu  m  riiv  la-t,  id  i  ic  liv  Cajtl.  Il'i'^nnii  nf  ilic  Brit. 
i'.li  f'ljjali',  liv.j'iri,  In  lake  st^uiii'ii  frnrii  on  JMianl  an  AiiiCiiciiii  vcs- 
si'l  Imuii'l  lo  live  liiNl  linlies.  il  is  \\  iiccssiiy  In  (ltv«lo|)f  lu  you 
llii- iiiroiivf iiifiii  f8  of  liuK  I  niiilnrt,  unit  III!  imrnssiliiliu  of  Ull>Mf^ 
il  ifo  nn,  /  /ini>p  •/nti  t)ill  l>i'  'ilile  tn  nt'ike  the  liri'ish  inin'ulry  svnsibtt  of 
thv  netessiiy  iif  punislutii;  tlit  jmsl  wd  piemil'ii';  l/ic  fwine. 


<i 


i 


* 


Evh'  irt  of  a  note  fr-nn  ,^fr.  Jaj/.  Knv<nj  E.vtranrdlnnrn 
(nil  m'ni\fri'  Vl  "lij)  i^euiiiirif  of  the  Vnlted  Slnfi's  at 
J.on  foiii  to  lord  Greiiviiic.  Secrvtartf  of  Fore'ti^n  "ijfdinif 


dated 


London,  Jnlif  3),  tTf);). 


Tiir  niKiorsiirnoil   fiiih    it  :»Un  to    b  >  Ins  ilnly  li  p  • -iii  t,  lliil  the 


irifjuliuilics    btfure 


15* 


niicii  txiciui    not  utiiv  lu    the  cupluic  uinl 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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ci\ 


17  J 


1IIE    OLIVE    BRANCH. 


rondcmmtion  of  American  vessels  und  properly,  'umI  to  vnu\uul  /*(^ 
S'Hiul  seierifie^.,  l)^f  ^''  even  lo  the  iinpreanment  of  /Iniciicnn  citizpn.,  la 
acne  on  bo<irfl  of  fin>ufi  jf?u7,«.  '-'^  I [e  forbears  I o  dwell  on  i/ir  lujinifi 
dune  Id  Iho^a  unfortuntilc  indii  idunlo  or  on  the  emotions  xclnvh  t/u-i/  I'lint 
iiiiurcdlif  e.rri/e,  ci'her  in  ffw  .'iieasl.^  'if  the  nauon  lo  idiom  tlte'j  bvUinp^  or 
I'f^  liie  jnsi  mnl  liiunane  (if  eioy  couniii/  His  rrliaiifc  on  111*'  jii.-.iirii 
:uiti  ln'iuvulctK  ••  nf  his  mijisty  UaiU  liiiti  lo  iii<i«lfjf  «  pl«'iiMi;{;  (x- 
pffliilioii,  lli.'it  ordfc  will  Iji-  aiwo,  Mi'H  Ainfriniiii?  so  riiruinslHiirid 
]i"  imuiediatt'ly  iiWci  a!e<l,  and  lliat  persons)  lioooiired  vviih  Wis  m  ji's- 
ty^'i  ( oinmi>sii>iis  dn  in  fitlute  altMlHin  fruin  siinilai'  vinU  ;i(l-s 

"It  is  >vilh  I'oidml  s.iU'^rK.lioii  ihit  ihe  oiiilcisimird  renTls  on  tlic 
iniiMrgsioiia  which  s>ieh  an  •  qntible  and  eonrihuioiy  imasoie  «ould 
miiko  oo  the  pi'0|)lt'  of  Uir  Uuitfd  Slatt's,  and  how  ojiluially  tliry 
would  incpiif  iu.d  riicnsli  those  sciitioinus  and  disposil ions  t- Inch 
IK  vt  r  fail  to  prtsoive  u:>  will  as  lo  produce  itspi-ttj  esleeni  autl  fiieiul- 
bhip." 


EMrnct  frr)\n  ihe  inHfrucf:oiift  r:::vpn  h;/  Tiwoffi!i  Vlckcr- 
i)i<<:,  es;/.  s:H'Y('i(trii  of  t^icite,  to  jLiifns  K'iu^,  esq.  ministtr 
at  ihe  court  of  London. 


fe: 


Jtine  8,  1796. 

*• ',r/*  TAe  long  /lilt  fruitless  nt tempts  that  have  been  mode  to  jimtat 
American  ^eitnii^n  J) oia  British  imjjre.sscs,  pio»e  that  the  suhjecl  is  10  its 
II  a  lore  ditHcoll 

"  T'u"  simplest  rule  <"  ould  he,  iha  ihe  vesici  beinjf  Ameriraii, 
should  be  evidence  t/uit  the  seamen  are  such  But  it  will  he  an  iinpoi  laiit 
poiiil  iruiiied,  if,  on  ihe  hiy:h  seas,  001  (Jatj  riiii  piotert  those  of  what- 
frver  iMl!Oi)  w  ho  sail  nnder  it  An',  for  ihis,  hinnHiiiiy,  ns  uell  as 
inioicst,  ooweiriiliy  plead,  (^f/*  MeichanI  resseh  carry  ro  nioie  handu 
than  their  safety  renders  necessary.  To  tcithdrnro  any  of  them  on  the 
ocean,  is  'o  expose  both  lives  and  properly  to  destruction  ^Ve  havi  a 
riu'iit  then  lo  expect  that  th<  liiitish  u'ovcrnnieot  will  make  no  dit}j> 
citltv  in  arcedin;;  lo  Ihis  very  inteiestini;  prnvision  And  the  same 
mo'ives  should  operate  with  nearly  equal  force  lo  procure  for  us  llie 
Iik<  exteplion  in  nil  the  Bntit-lt  colonies,  hut  especially  in  th>'  West 
Inilies  In  the  latter  tlie  consequence  of  ho  impress  is  ;""  '  the  deten- 
tion of  the  vessel  ij^f  By  the  detention,  the  vessel  is  injured  or  destroyed 
by  Ihe  xmrms.  and  {^^  the  remnant  of  the  crew  exposed  to  the  fatal  dit- 
eases  of  the  climate.  Heme  a  longer  delenliou  ensues  The  voyage 
becomes  ouproiiiiihle  to  the  merchaitt  :  and  Xj*  humanity  deplores  the 
lo>s of  many  valuable  lives.  But  there  is  another  cogent  reason  for  au 
rxeinplioo  from  impi>sses  in  the  British  coloniei— that  Ij'  (li^  prac- 
tice will  be,  as  it  has  always  been,  subject  to  monstrous  abuses  :  and  the 
S'lpreiue  power  is  so  remote,  thai  {J/*  the  evils  become  irremediable^  6e- 
fore  redress  can  even  be  souohtfrnr. 

"To  ^nard  a^jainsl  abuses  on  the  part  of  Amrriean  ritizens,  every 
iMnst)  r  of  a  vessel,  on  his  nrrital  in  any  port  of  Ihe  British  colnMif&, 
may  be  required  toie;;orthis  crew,  at  the  prosier  office.    If,  aftci* 


!  -  „« 


"I'mS    OLIVE    BUANCU. 


±73 


wards  any  addilioti  be  made  lo  tlirm  hy  Brilixh  mbjecls,  these  may  be 
tak-  ■>  <v«  ly.  Ill  iiu-  pot'lN  ot*  Grt'iil  Bniaiii  -.iimI  liilaiiii,  tlu'  iiii|iiess 
of  Bnttjik  sit/iji'cl.i,  fouxui  ou  hojm\  of  our  vi;sst'ls,  most  douitt  k-sa  be 
ahiiitlcd  But  I  his  nliniild  be  cuiilrouled  bv  ic^u:i<tioiiB  lo  prevent 
insults  and  iiijiii  its,  and  to  iidinuusttr  |ir<iiii)i;  i.mf  ,'j'wheie  Ame- 
iK  Ki  <M(iz<its  (wliicU  «vill  assuiodly  bapprn;  :<ti!ili  be  mi>>(akfu  loi' 
B.  .ti-i'i  sulijecls. 
'•IMicieare   three  classes  of  men,  roneern i up  wliotn  tkeie  ran   be 


[in  I  )fi' vili V.       I     Nilive  Aineneaii   ritiz''iis, 


'2     Atsi'M  iciiii   (  ,ti. 


ECUS,  ilnrevor  born,  w  lio  wi.'ie  mub  »•  ibe  rbfiiiil  ivc  ti>  iity  of  ptate. 
iT  f' 13  FmeijfuerK,  olhei  tb>ni  B'.  iti''b  siibj«ets,  s.iiliua;  lit  AiiK'nean 
vc«s(ts,  :i:id  v\  hose  |ieis«nis  oii!>bt  to  hf  as  s  icieti,  as  il  it'S|>i  i  ts  tlie 
B  t'-li,  as  those  of  i).<tive  citizt-iis  Tbr  4ih  iliss  eoiisisti  of  Bi  tisli 
lifli  ■!  sn'yuis,  liiit  rtlto,  «ir  ma  >y  of  Mhom,  in  ly  have  be<  wrii«'  <  t  z<ns 
siii)sti]ti<  It  to  the  trt'jtv  of  peace,  or  whn  heitafler  may  be  adinltid 
til  :|i(>  ■i<r|ils  of  citiZ'-iiH  I<  IS  this  riass  alone,  about  winch  any  pie- 
ti'iiK  iif  iiubt  to  iiiipi«'ss  ran  be  tirade  With  r^^aidto  tbesf,  ii  may 
lj«  rt' nipt  d  til  pint' it  ilieni,  as  vvcll  in  iinie  of  war  as  <»f  pt'iirr,  in 
tii<  ioi  <»vMiin  I  -.UH'H  ;  F'lst,  nv'/^M  Iheif  xliill  have  serrerl  in  4?tieiican  vet- 
sell,  public  or  priiu'e,  fur  'he  sa-ne  term  tn  which  fnieinnen  serving  in  Hrit- 
iih  lY'Wp/v  vnuld  no/uire  the  linhi"  of  Bnlish  suhji'ct.i,  which  ts  umlt'rstuod 
to  he  ;hree  f/P(iK :  or  secondly,  if  so  much  cmniol  be  oblainul,  ivhen  thoie 
peitnni,  nri'jtmally  Ihitiah  subjcctx,  shall  have  resided  Jive  years  in  I'm 
U'liifd  S/ntes,  and  been  formally  admitted  to  the  rights  of  cifizens,  accord- 
ing to  OUT  laivs 

"  It  niU!«t  tt'teii  happen  tli  it  satlnrs  will  lose  their  eertiHeates  :  pro- 
vision shoiiM  tbi-iefor*'  bv  niadc  for  the  udinissi<Mi  of  othiT  reasoiia/ile 
|iio(if  ol  tbi-M  citizenship,  (<iit-b  as  their  o^tii  oalbw,  wiib  those  oftlic 
iiiisii'is,  iiiatt'8  Oi  other  eieilitable  wiiiu-sses  The  rolls  of  the  cieiis, 
or  shippiu);  pafiers,  may  also  bi-  aiilbriitieati  (I  by  t^<e  riiliei  tors  of  the 
customs:  and  tlicii  lheyou::htto  be  udaiitttd  as  uf  equal  validity 
Willi  the  individual  certifiijtes  " 

From  the  same  to  the  same. 


Sept    lO,  1796. 

"lenclosea  letter  from  Francis  S.  Taylor,  depiit>  eoliiTinr  of 
Norfolk,  lespeetiiiK  four  imprcsned  seamen  It  appears  to  bt-  v\iii|c,ii 
with  candour,  and  iiterits  attention  If,  as  the  captain  of  the  Piev«»y- 
aiiic!  [  Wemyss]  says,  the  dinuily  of  the  British  iroveriuneiii  Ai||  not 
pi'imit  411  enquiry  on  board  their  ships  foi  Ame-  hiii  senmen,  ''/cjr 
doom  is  fixed  for  the  icar  :  avd  thus  TlIK  uiRItTs  .ir  AN  LVO^prvD- 
BKTSATION  ARE  TO  BE  SACRl  FlCJf.D  TO  BRITISH  1)IG  NITY  Jus- 
tice requires  that  surh  eiKpiiries  and  exammniiou  hi  made  ;  brtanse 
Alherwine  the  libeialioii  of  our  seamen  « ill  be  impossible.  For  the 
British  eovernment,  then,  to  make  professions  of  respect  to  the  rishts  of  our 
citizens,  and  willino^ness  to  release  them,  and  yet  deny  the  only  means  of  ««- 
iertainins  thn^e  rights,  is  an  insuUintr  tuntalism 

"  If  the   British  'jovemment  have  any  repard  tn  mir  rights,  any  respect 
for  our  nation,  and  place  an'j  value  on  our  friendship  thei/  will  even  faeiii- 


<( 


\!ur7' 


ire 


IHE    OLIVE    iJUANfW. 


tale  fo  us  fhe  7nean»  nf  jfvttiii>  our  tippii'sscd  ciHien.i  TIte  stil'jrrl  of 
ni'i  iiii|)i't'ssi'il  s(".iiii('i<  III  k- --  .1  (viil  of  vonr  insli  iii  t'ntii  ^  liui  i)ie 
pitMiiciit  iiovi  KiicMs  Ills  (icsiie  lliui  I  he  II' relief  uiuy  cngxgt.-  jum 
i>()cciul  utleiition." 


CHAP.  XXII. 


!   S 


If       \ 


Imprrfi^^vpvf  duriris:  the   Ad mivht ration  of  Mr.    Jldnma. 

Letter  from    liiifnn  Kins;.     From  Silas   Tulbot.     I'r  m 

Tiiiinlhif    Pickerins;.     lustruciions    of  Jud^xc  ^Mvvsl^vil 

to  linfhs  Kin^.     Jir    Lisfou's  project  nj  a  treat y.     He- 

jcc'cd  on  account  of  Jmirissment. 

I  now  proceed  in  chronological  ordrr  to  ftate  tiie  views 
of  <)  M  government  upon — tiie  rcnionlirances  ot  onr  pub- 
lic ofiiceis  atJMmft  —  and  the  redrels  afFoi  dcd  or  ictiiiod 
in — the  odious  .:fFai'r  oi  inipicHment,  dining,  the  achmnis- 
trat'on  ot   Mr.  Adan)S. 

I  bejrin  with  Rnliis  King-,  efq.  whofe  name,  from  the 
ground  l:e  now  takes  in  politics,  is  a  towei  ot  fticngth 
on  this  (ill  j  ti. 

From  Ihifus  ICing^  Esq.  to  Timoiht/  rickeririgf  Secretary 

of  Stutf, 

Lovilnn.  April  13,  J 707. 

TJiP  »iihi« Tt  [of  improKsmf I'tl  in  all  its  lii'l.uis,  hiii-  r«iiiH'  iiii<ler 
my  <ii)sri  *  ii  Mill  :  ;m)(|  iis  iiii|i(iit;iiir'f,  I  cnnffss,  is  nuul  grciiiti  tlniH 
I  |i.  il  siippi  Nf'<i  it.  InslcaJ  ol'  n  (Vu,  i4ii(l  tlif;Nf  it>  iiiiiis)  iiis'iii.t'i'S 
rqitivtxiii  I'lsc--,  I  liii«r,  since  tliR.  nioiilli  of  Jn  y  last,  iiiiid*  applKa- 
tio.i  fill  jIh  ili5ch:ii2t  from  llu-  Btitisli  nipn  of  war  of  27'  sriiiiitii, 
who  siaiiiic  lli^iiisclvt !«  to  lip  Anu'iiiaiis,  liavr  rlitiniMl  ni\  iiilt-ifrr- 
einf  :  of  tli's  iiiiitilier  8fi  liavr  ny  tlu'  nilmiralty  he«'i.  onlerfd  to  lie 
(lis)  lt:i>y:<  H  ;  37  iiioic  biivt'  lipii)  tii  tinned  as  Biitisli  siilijt  cis.  m  as 
AniKicrtii  v(iiiiiitt  rr!i,  or  for  want  of  proof  llmt  \\\v\  are  Aim  i'Oiis  : 
and  to  ni\  applK  iitioi's  for  tlu^  <liseli.iri:f  of  tli»  ri  iiianmur  I4y.  I 
l»av(    lecemfl  em   nii.  ,.'      tfin  sliipx  on  honril  of  ivhich  tfie^e  stamen 

M'fTf  (lefainnf,  hdiin^,  irtu  iirfanc'Sf  sailed  bifore  on  eiaviinalmti  uas 

f/ififl '    V7  colli' (jJii'^'CP  nf  nil/ aiiii/itaU-'nt 

*'  It  if  »«i  laiit.  tlml  some  of  tliose  wlio  liave  nppliffl  to  tiip,  are  not 
All"  IK  an  nlizeiis  Hill  the  except  ions  are  in  mt/ opiniov  fiw  :  aiirl 

tht     <  vtdi'rii  e,  «'y<lnsive  of  r<  rtificiiies.  Iiais  heeii  such  an  m-    «ini>t 

insMiK-rs  to  satisfy  till  I'm'  the  (ipp'iciinls  were  real  Ametirani,  "lift 
had  been  forced  iutu  ihe  British  service  j  and  wUo  cQ"  with  siuguiai 


THE    OLIVE  BRAN'OH. 


Xi  4 


s>il>jrrl  of 

:  ;,     lilll     tlie 


cunstnnoy  h«V8    generally  persevered    in    refusing;     par    and    bounty, 
tiioiii^li  ill    iiiHiiy  iiibUnces  they  hare  been   iu  service   tnuie   tbaii  two 


/.     7  V  ni 
•itiy.     He- 


ine views 

oiir  pub- 

)r    vctufcd 

E  iulniinis- 

,  from  the 
it    fticngth 

,  Secretary 


vcar». 


To  this  document,  I  mofl  earnellly  invite  and  invoke 
the  attention  of  the  American  nation,  and  the  whole 
people  of  Chriftcndom.  It  affords  the  moft  concluhvc 
tkience  of  the  ftrong  ground  taken  on  this  fuhjfft  hy  tlie 
adniinillration  ;  and  lets  the  (cal  of  eternal  contradiOion 
on  the  afTertion  fo  often  repeated,  that  the  poor,  niilerable, 
ciillavcd,  and  by-his-country-abandoned  failor — tlie  pride 
—the  glory — the  bulwark  of  that  ungrateful  country — 
IS  readily  furrendered,  when  lynprejfed  by  mrjlake.  Let 
no  man  ever  dare  again  to  make  the  afTertion.  It  is  not 
true.     It  never  was  true. 

Mr.  King  tells  us  a  plain  ffory.  He  applied  for  the 
emancipation  of  271  American  flaves,  forced  to  fight  for 
their  enflavers.  (^ Not  nmie  a  third  coe.re  difcharged — 
.2/?!^'  i^  more  than  one  half  of  {he  xvkole  number  zvere  de- 
harred  of  any  chance  of  rcdrefs^  by  a  plain  and  fimplt 
brocejs.  (5^1*  The  veffels,  on  board  of  which  they  were, 
having  (Jrf  "  in  many  mjlances  /ailed  before  an  ex- 
Amination  was  had  in  conjequence  of  his  application." 


W 


I  13,  i7n7' 

(•«iir.«-   iiii'lt'l' 

grriitii  t.iiiH 

\\\  ius'iii.ccs 

id«   fipplua- 

271  siiiiii»n, 

n)\  iiiti-i  frr- 

ileifd  «<>  lie 

ij<  ris,  "f  a* 

Ante"  i''i>iis  : 

11  Mi<:   1 4y.  1 

/Ae«e  .Humen 

tninaluiti  uus 

IMP,  aif  not 

ov  fiw  .   «iid 

teiirnrxi.  '■  lift 

ith  singula' 


Fro:n  Silas  Talbot,  Esq.  a^pnt  for  the  relief  of  impress- 
ed seamen,  to  Timothy  Fickerlug',  Esq.  secretary  of 
state. 

Kiiiffnton,  Jnhi  i,  1707. 
"Admiral  Sir  Hyde  baving;  pfilned  informatii):!,  iliit  mv' :4ppli'ation 
10  tlie  civil  aiitliority  ol  iliis  island,  'o  uhtMiii  Vie  reli-Hsc  of  sucii 
Aniericau  citiztiis  as  were  found  to  b*'  delHiii'  d  on  bourd  bis  mnj.-s- 
ty'ssliips  of  war,  bad  been  ntto!idi<l  with  some  success,  be  inimi'tiiaiely 
issued  a  general  order  to  all  captains  and  eonnnandcrs  of  sbips  and 
vessels  of  war,  .lirecting  tbem  not  to  obey  any  wiit  ol'  habeas  corpus, 
nor  sufte  •  any  mm  to  have  tlieir  Kiij)*.  in  consetjiienc"  of  any  su'h 
wi'it  Since  the  above  uienliomMl  order  was  issued,  writs  have  bet-n  ob- 
uiiicd  against  Captain  Klpbinslone,  of  tlu  Tartar  frigate,  to  prfxlnce 
ilnee  A  nigricans,  named  in  the  wi-it,  before  tiie  thief  justice  ;  ;ind 
;igaiiist  captain  Foster,  of  the  Mbiemc,  to  produce  four;  and  also, 
:t  ;iinst  Captain  Otway,  of  iIk;  (^ler^s  fii!;ate,  lo  produce  twenty  \rn«ri- 
'''tiiii,  in  like  manner  bcl'ure  the  chief  jubliee.     All    thoS)«  writs  weve 


Jlt^. 


jfit>!mtlH$l&h 


irs 


THB  OMVK    nnANCU. 


Bervcrl  lint,  nonenf  them  whs  fibejed.  AliiiclmentRapninst  the  said  «<\]). 
t!)i)iRliH\'  I)'  .  ii  orufi-j-d  1»\  the  coiii't  ;  hikI  h  wril  ot  .<il  .flinn  ;  I  ;*?ri.i;ist 
C'ljil;.!!,  (/iM'uy  \vii3  ti>ktii  oiil  i  fUifii  <l  _\»  since.  IJiil  tlif  niHisl.  I  \im 
rcil  ht  L'li  :iblf,  iis  he  sjiys,  lo  seivr  it  on  (In))!  liii  Dlvvuy  :  ;in<l  iri..i,  «11 
tli»t  I  fill!  1' ;irM,  tli"  !•!■  is  ii'tHiiy  jiiob Mlity  lliiil  ht-  will  si-i'Vf  th  writ; 
SO  iliiit  tlie  hnv  in  tliis  :nhi7id,  it 


Here  again  we  fiftrl  what  rerlrcfs  the  American  flavc 
has  tt)  cxpctt.  He  is  brought  ti)  tiie  gangway,  and  ^-If  ig- 
NOMIN' HJUSLY  scuuKGi.  1)  for  daring  to  try  to  iiavc 
his  Cdlc  taken  into  the  cognizance  ot  tiic  American  agent 
ior  the  reiict  ot  imprellcd  ieamen. 


From  Tlmotliy  Ficherhmj  Eaq.  secretanj  of  state,  to 
Silas  Talbot ,  Esq. 


August,  15,  iror. 

•'Tfnnrnavnl  nfficor  shall  Imve  commlttpd  snc'i  »'>  nutr;tj;f  on  my 
Amci  i«M.',  s.  M.>cii,  as  ir»  [Q-  FiRiN(i  TURM  TU  i  liK  (i  NOW  \Y, 
as  you  nu-nt  on,  (W  to  iniiii-t  any  kind  o!  iJtiniblimeMt  Oi»  tlieiri,  espi'iiiij. 
ly  for  S.C1  kin;;  fipijoituiiitifs  to  int'oiin  \u\\  of  llieir  sitiitifion,  fur  llie 
purp'ise  of  oi>i!)inii  i;  x\\-  just  relief  to  wiiirli  they  urceiitilUil  pray  tii- 
d(  •ivcur  to  y;.  t  pioofs  of  \\\v  t'.ut  that  I  may  make  it  the  subjec.  of  a 
sijccial  reiirtst  Illation  lo  the  British  ,.  ovennnei.t." 


From  the  same,  to  Riif'is  I^i^'ng,  Esq, 


Trentov    October  .S,  1797. 

*M.ord  rircnvillf's  observations  on  lh(  •..  t  o'  r<)n<;riss  for  ih  ■  n  lief 
and  protn'fioii  '-f  A 'i-t-riiMO  se'tmeii,  prisvni  <li(liriilt';t-s  \i  hich  di.  m  Mid 
eon'-i<!<  r.iiion  at  th''  •  nMiin.L'  session,  'lit  y  "vu  rrasoni'.g:  in  >onr  I  t'cr 
to  Ink  lordsliip  of  till-  30ll^  of  last  Niiveiiil);.r,  is  eoiiciusive  ag' inst  the 
IJritibh  i»reteiues  to  nMain  real  Vmencaii  seamen  who  are  inarrit;(  m 
their  iliMuinions  oi  \\\\<'  h  ve  v.j'.unt'uilv  enicr  <l  on  botr  Hiitis'  vcs- 
stls  ,    ll  behoven  tlie  honnnr  .ml  fu'th  of  tfie  Rvit  sli  ^fovenmi'nt, 

to  adh.rcto  tUeir  /jrincip  e  on  natur-<l  all  P'idnce  -wholiy  tn-  to  renounce 
it  wh'iily  :  1  ikI  an  aiiswoi  ou  this  iJoiiit,  woul  i  iiavc  become  iiis  lord- 
ship's  candour, 

•'  1  <v,nsid..v  (/'  1.  Tall)Ot's  as<ency  in  the  West  Indies  to  be  no  lonsrer 
vrrv  iinporiani.  'i'ne  ii,<!:iil  condnct  of  Adinii-ai  Sir  Hyde  Parker  (who 
fro:n  tlie  h.  };iniiinrr  bus  ili.  ow  n  obs'acles  i  thew  y)  lea»es  bui  Idle 
room  t(i  ;;;et  nor  searnen  ivli:iS'  u  'I  l»e  opposition  of  itu  orilcers  in 
general,  induced  Col.  Talbot  to  take  cut  wnls  of  habeas  corpus  at  Jivmai- 


.1  jtfc^ .  ^* 


TUE    OLIVE    DRAXeir. 


ITtt 


US,  by  whic^,  fVircctlv  o>'  in  ilieir  coiist'<|ii('nccs,  or->  he  nhtainoil  the 
iLtchiirge  of  ni'ii^'H  fif  y  sKuineii  liiil  \J  uiral  I'-irkti  ln.s  i...  m,  e 
till,,'  |i;isi,  ,  forlnttiun  /lis  ufficein  to  fimj  niiy  ■ttei  t  on  tn  t;itch 
witu  ■•  iuitl  Col.  I'albot  infovntril  me  t/iut  j^  t.nin.-  uj  <ntr  sci.m- n 
liavti  'ft.''!  fiunished  tor  uttciiil»liii;^  to  scud  Icitcis  ti»  hnu  lo  iiitVirm  ol" 
llu-ir  silUiiiioii 

"  Mr.  I.ibloi)  assdrcd  me,  th;it  tiie  IJritisli  otfic  is  li;ive  orders  r.ot 
(n  iiiijiress  any  Vmcrii-aii  si-miKii,  (tiid  ot  coil  •><■  ii  t  (o  r-.  tit  in  uii;  i  st 
thrir  will  «My  alitful)  impti  sf.t  d  lint  (^j  if  t/ieit  fn'rs  st  ui  of'sn  nvt- 
irnj  eveiy  chdntiel  of  tnforina'inn  and  proof  of  iUeir  vtltzenshtp,  such  or- 
ctisiite,  and  uill  conlinuey  deceptive.''' 


E.vfrttct  of  a  leUer  from  Rifn<i  f^'i^g*  ministpr  plenl- 
pttiutiiirj  of  the  United  iSttites,  tu  the  secretary  tf 
slate. 


LnniJon,  March  15,  1799. 
"I  mentioned  niir  diss.iti»frir(ion  witli  (li«>  cuniiiMiMiMin  m  the 
pruf  lUf  of  l-tkni);  out  of  our  Btii|)s.  met  on  llic  inain  o>(Mn,  sticli  of 
tlicii' rtevvM  as  iliil  not  jiosscss  cei  t  itic  tt<  s  of  Anifruan  citizoisli.p  j 
dt'nyintj,  a»  I  !nnl  otien  done,  in  t'oiiK.  r  roiift  1  (mhth,  n;iiMi  'lie  •^iiwe 
siibjeol,  any  r;uhi  on  the  (»arl  of  Gpitl  Unlaiii,  ii()0'i  vfi'ili  tin  piac- 
licf  could  be  fonndcd  ;  and  susjitesilinij  lli;-.!  our  ^htps-  iif  trurf  Inj  per' 
mi^uon  of  ou>  soienimrnt^  mioht,  with  equal  right,  puisue  ;he  name  piac- 
tice  fo7vards  ihcir  mercliuntmen 

'■•'riiiit  noi  only  sfinici)  uli"  sjioke  llu-  Knsirisli  lanjiuaie,  and  wlio 
»fie  evi.len<l\  J'^mrnsli  or  Aniiiieun  snitj-e's,  Imi>  hIho  1^''h.'1  D(tni.ihf 
Swedish,  and  Oilier  fnieian  seamen  iu/i>  cnuld  no'  rr-cett  e  :im<iictni  pin  ec- 
iinn^,  iveie  itnlt'tcrtm  nntnti/  tukin  from  tlu-ti  lo'uutaiy  se^rne  tit  <»ir  muiral 
tmjilni/,  and  fore*  i|  into  ilif  \tat   in  ih     nivi.  s<'i»ite  «!(()!.•,  1  |{  it.isii. 

"  riiat  on  tins  snbj'it  J"  W"  had  nonin  and  n;>ain  off-'erl  o  cmcur 
in II  convention,  which  we  lho>ii;hi  pracliiabln  'o  h\foi>n''d,  .md  which  should 
self/a  ihe^p  que^lions  in  a  munoer  thai,  would  be  sa:ifiicfo'<j  for  Eic^l  md, 
tnii  safe  for  us 

"  Til  «i  lo  decline  sneh  eonvendmi,  and  lo  ptrwist  u  a  pruti'-e 
wliK'li  we  MCie  |»ersu;idcd  could  not  '<»  v>i\i\\<:  .tfd,  e'  petiiily  "»  t!ie 
CKlfrtt  it  was  earned,  seemed  less  oquitr.lile  and  moder  ilr  ilian  we 
li:i(l  1  nt;h»  to  expecl 

"Loid  Grenville  slated  no  p'eeise  principle  npon  wliieli  lie  sup- 
posed this  practice  <'onld  he  jn-^t'tifd  :  and  tl.^  ro.,  vi  rsilm  .  ij|ioii 
this  point,  like  ni.i  y  others  upon  tlie  same  siit»j>Mt,  ended  «iti<  "t  a 
piospeit  of  Kaiisfiu  liou  iTj*  Tlic  Frencli  and  Spaniatd*,  aii»li«iiy 
ntlier  nation,  innjlit  pnisue  the  s.ime  condnci  as  nuli'Jully  i'^  fireat 
Bi Hiiin  does.  With  respect  ,  ^  lo  foreign  seamen  in  our  unpi.o,..  this 
I'liprvneni  //a«,  if  I  itc'>l''ect,  i/ielded  the  fioinf,  ijp"  lini'jh  thi-i>  o-rn  nffi' 
eerit  cot  'irii/p  the  pi'icttce       We   i;e  assured  all    A.n»     '     ns   sh.tl  .hs- 

tliit^f, 1,1,1    "pplu-iitiou  foi    liiit   pnrpos'',   and   ih^.     '"  orders  t     '  ■\% 
fill  l)ave  been  given  lo  their  naval  cominandGis  ;  but  (^  this  is  far 


ri\ 


"*>.\v^.," 


p0^-l'^fi00ttl^ 


;f;i(Uil 


«r 


180 


THE   OLIVE    BRANaif. 


short  of  sGtiafacti'm—iiidfed,    TO    ACQUIESCE  IN    IT    IS   TO 
ClVli  Ul'    rilK  KJGIIT." 


W^ 


I  bc(r  the  reader  will  moft  carefully  and  attentively 
penile  tlie  I'econd  and  third  paragidphs  ot  the  precediuir 
doc  unieiit. 

The  lecond  confirms  tne  ftatement  made  by  Mr. 
Pickerinjr,  when  he  WdS  fccretary,  that  ^  Danes,  SweJcs 
and  other  joragners  ircre  preffed  out  of  our  vtjJ'tJs — and 
fets  afide  his  recent  declaration,  th.it  ^  the  imprc/fnient 
of  our  feamrn  aro/e  from  the  d'jfi' uity  of  d /criminating 
betroren  an  Enghfliman  and  an  Anient  an.  Wfiat  a  frjii- 
cal  procedure  it  would  be  to  Icize  by  rniflake  upon 
Danes  and  Swedes,  as  En):^li(hn'en  ! 

But  the  tart  eft.ihliihed  by  the  third  paratrraph 
is  {lill  more  impoitant.  It  is  that  this  country 
(J::!""  had  again  and  again  offered  to  fettle  thefe  ques. 
tions  m  a  manner  that  rvould  he  fatufadorv  for  Eng- 
land and  f'afe  for  the  U.rJei  States.*'  And  further,  tii u 
"  Eni^land  had  dechm-d  fuch  a  ct)n  vent  ion."  And  vet 
M  .  P'(  kenncT  has  roii-'drntlv  itated  the  contiarv,  in 
diie^-^  oppofition  to  the  iatcand  to  his  own  knowledge  and 
exprrience  : — 


*' Our  envernmrnt  we'l  know,  (Imt  Gtpnl  Br'\ta\n  (^  is  perferily 
wi/l'iiiT  lo  (idi}>/  any  airanyremeni  'hu  can  he  dei'tsed  that  will  secure  tn  her 
service  the  spmnen  wlin  tne  tier  oicv  yul)jfet$,  and  at  l/ie  same  tttnCf  exempt 
OUTS  from  iuiprcst'tienf.'"* 

"  So  tnan  u:/io  rt  (rards  f/ii'  'ruf/i  'J'  uiill  question  the  diipositinn  of  Ihe 
Jirifi'/i  aoverfimenl  to  ado;,'  a/ni  anongement  that  will  secure  to  Great  Brit- 
ain the  service  of  her  ntvn  .subjccts-'^f 

Thefe  fafts  fcorn  the  aid  of  comment.  The  duUeft 
and  moft  Baeotian  reader  nuift  be  ftruck  with  the  aflon- 
ifhinjr  contraditlion  and  inconfiftency  they  difplay. 

With  Mr.  Pickering  1  am  almoft  wholly  unac- 
quainted.    He  is  far  advanced  in  years — and  has  held 


*  Lrtfer  of  the  honornblr  Timothy    Pirkerinij  lo  his  excellency 
iTpincs  Sullivan,  govcriior  of  iMnssarliosetis,  page  J3. 

f  Idem,  page  B. 


h  m 


r  ■;  ^ 


IT    IS   TO 

attentively 
prc'tcduig 

:  by  Mr. 
les,  Swedt'S 
^'U'tls — and 
imprtjj'ihnxi 
ctimnijfunr 

hat    a  tc:Kl- 

Ildke   Ujjuii 

parafrraph 
is     country 

thf^/e  que.!,- 
V  for  En^- 
tuitluM,  thit 
"  And  yet 
contsarv,  in 
ow ledge  and 


is  per/erfly 
ill  secure  to  'xr 
\ie  time,  esempl 

k^positinn  of  ihe 
le  to  Great  Bnt- 


Irhe  dulled 
\h  the  afton- 
({■play, 
holly   unac- 
id  has  held 


Ibis  excellency 


THE    OLIVE    BHANOir. 


1^1 


thehighcft  and  moll  confidential  offices.  He  has  been 
honoured  with  the  regard  and  cileem  of  the  paity  to 
which  he  belongs,  ot  whom  he  is  confidered  as  one  oi' 
the  leaders.     He  has  very  niodcllly  ailerted  ot  hinirelf, 

«'  I  in  V  rl;*ini  some  sbure  of  attention  and  credit — that  share  whicU 
is  flue  lo  the  iniui  who  dtfn  9  the  worlil  to  point,  in  the  \vh>  ic  cnnrsf  of 
n  Inni;  and  jinljlic  life,  at  one  instance  ot'  «lecciition — at  a  8ini,le  depart- 
ure from  irnlli."* 

I  call  on  him  and  his  friends,  to  reconcile  the  above 
{hiteinents  with  the  ia^ts  ot  the  cafe.  It  will  give  ine 
pRvifurc  if  he  can,  at  the  clofe  ot  his  long  caieer,  juf- 
tify  himfelf  on  this  point  to  his  own  confcience,  and 
to  his  country,  belore  whofc  bar  I  thus  folenuily  cite 
him. 

One  other  obfcrvation,  and  I  difmifs  this  letter. — 
Mr.  King  explicitly  dates,  and  flatcs  with  jullice.  that 
to  acquieice  in  the  furrcnder  of  our  feamen  being  a  fatis- 
fa-ti-)n  for  the  inj  try,  is  iJ.f  to  admit  the  ripjit  of  ,>n' 
prfffment,  again  11  which  lie  mofl  zealoufly  and  patrioti- 
cally contended. 

Extract  from  a  report  of  Timothy  Pickerings  .Esq.  sc- 
cretary  of  state,  to  Congress. 

Dec  9.  1799. 
"  \dmiral  Parker  i)Hir|  no  attention  to  the  age.it  s  apijlicmmn  on 
IniiHlt'  of  our  ini|)ros8ed  seamen  ;  tlie  ailmiral  having  determined, 
and  iiilormed  tin:  agent  o'  the  d'::lei'mination,  that  no  proofs  w  nid 
bi'  regarded  hy  him,  u-dess  spe  ially  presented  by''..'  Americ.tn  go- 
venuuent  through  the  Hritish  minister;  noi-  then  i' i'  in  ihe  single 
case  of  native  Americans  Under  tliis  fieliM  mination  there  wii;  be 
(let;iincd,  not  (ndy  tli"  suhjucti*  of  liis  Britannic  maje8t),  natur  .izi.d 
«inc."  the  peace  of  1783  ;  but  all  who,  born  elscwiicrc,  vert  then  I'e- 
silmlin  md  had  ben^iiiie  citizcin  of  t'le  United  >tai.-s;  also,  j"  all 
frreisfiiei's,  as  Gr'nn.^ni,  Stix^des,  Danes,  Portugnpse,  and  'tahans, 
iDho  vo'iiintanly  utirve  m  the  v.'sseis  of  the  Unil.jd  States,  .ind  •(  is  (i 
fict  that  f  sHch  »l>i^liIl>^K;M  have  freqne  tfy  been  imfir  ssnl  ,•  nl- 
thoii:fh  their  Uuvfiiages  and  other  circumstances,  demonstrated  that 
iltey  ti/ere  not  Bvitiah  snbjectt." 

Here  again  we  have  Mr.    Pickering's  teftimony  on 


■1^ 


i.\j 


16 


•  Idem,  pa^e  0. 


16^ 


TJIIi  Ol.lVE    unANCII. 


wl 

i 

il 

1/ 

ifjfl 

Wmm '    ' 

7^f^ 


the  fubjcn;  of  tlic  l.ititjuliiiariaii  piiiKijiIcs  on  wliitli  irn, 
jiicffiTicp.t  is  condiiHcil. 

'J  lu'  (iilijcH  (iiilu's  nic  in  a  new  point  of    li^ilit.     An 
American    vcllel    is    intt  at   fea  hv  a   lintif}i    tniMtc— 
The  crew   are  brongla  tfcirhliii);;  before  that  n^ilit  revc- 
rend  and    worihipful    ni.i;.',illi.;te,   the    boatlwain's   ni.itc. 
(jTj*  All    who  cannot  /peak  plum   En^^j^ljh  uie  fazed  \~- 
t:s,    hang   rrrnch,    GcrwanSy     Danes,^  Italiam,   or  Hot. 
tniidls,    tlii\  cannot    be    ndtix'es    of    the    United   Suites 
and  aie  not   therefore  entitled   to   piotci^lion   tioni    ( iir 
fl.'g.     'I'his  fcrutiny   is  Coon  vw^v.     Anotlici   then  takes 
})lace.       And  (Jrf*  of  tliofe  mho  fpcnk  plain   Enpjijl'^    },t 
f'a.ies   as    many  as    he   fiippo/es  or    pretends  to   ftppopt 
to    hi'  B)il',f}i    fuhythlW      And    yc-t    ve    have  nK-n  in 
hi.L;h  llatunis  who  defend  this  practice  !    Would  to  Gi/J 
that    ^f  every   wan    who    is    an   advrca/e   for  inipicff. 
iDciit,    was  hiuifelf  inip;e{red  and  enllavcd  on  hoaid  a 
Biitilh   man    ot    war,     witii    a    cat-o'-nine    tails    to'  his 
back,  to  punilh  his  reirattoiy  fpirit,  in  cafe  he  dared  to 
complain. 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  John  Marshal!,  Eaq.  secretnry  of 
sfofp,  to  Rufns  Aih^s"'  Esq.  JJi nisi er  I'Uuiputentiari/ of 
the  United  iiitates  at  London,  dated 

Dejmrivjent  of  State,  SeOt.  20.   ISoO. 

"  Ttir  impresp.mevt  of  our  seamen  is  mi  injnry  of  very  aerious  mag- 
v.itvde,  XL'Iiiili  ilrc/jly  nj/bcfs  t/ie  J'eeliii^^n  and  the  honour  nj  the  iiution, 

"  This  viiliiiiMe  clnss  of  men  is  cumiiosid  of  natives  and  foriigntis, 
mIiO  eiiS^'R*'  voliiiituiily  in  our  service 

"  No  ri<>l)t  lias  b<  en  asserled  U»  impress  the  iiniives  of  Jhnevicn, 
(J":'  Vet  tlii'y  are  ^inp^-csned ;  {^'j'  they  are  ilriirp-ed  ch  tionril  of  liiitish 
shifus  of  -u>(ir,  -with  e.vi'tence  of  citixeivihip  ni  t/uir  IkukIs.  (iiul  ^  Jlr- 
ccd  tjy  violence  there  to  serve,  jiiiti  cuiicliinive  tcfiiimomu's  of  their 
birtli  cull  be  obtained  'I'liese  must  most  gentiiilly  be  s(?iii;lit  tor  on  this 
side  of  tbe  Alliiitie  In  ttie  mean  time  (^  ackno-wleilged  violence  h 
prdctiaed  on  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  by  covt/iclting- /urn  toen^^ii^e 
and  coin  inne  in  foreign  service.  Altiiotigli  tlie  lords  of  the  Admiralty 
uniformly  dinct  ihiic  discliH'pe  on  the  production  of  this  testindiiv ; 
yet  (13^  many  must  perishnnrelieved,  and  all  are  detained  a  consicleni- 
lie  time,  in  Iwwlcss  avd  injurious  confnement. 

"■  U  is  the  duty,  us  «■  ii  as  the  riglit  of  a  friendly  nation,  tore- 
quire  tliai  measur(»5  he  tak'  n  by  llu  iJritish  iMjveinniciit  to  iiruve:'. 
the   continued  repciition  ol"  such  violence  by  its  agents.       Tiiis  cas 


''^:*-<q^J^fft^ 


THE    OLIVE  miANCII. 


1.S3 


wliich  im- 

liv.lit.     An 

i  II, If  ate— 

n^ht  rcvc- 

jiii's    Ml.ilC. 

t  fazed  ;— 
7j,  or  Hot. 
itid  Suites, 
1  tioni  ( iir 
then  takes 

EllgllJJ',     hi 

10  J II I' po ft 
uve  men  in 
)ul(l  to  God 
for  Inipu'lf. 

on  board  a 
tails  to  his 
be  clarcd  to 


?ecret(tr]\  of 
pateittiarii  i-j 


'pt.  20,    1800. 

ry  nerious  mn^- 

ir  uj  the  viUiun. 

ami  fortigiieis, 

res  of  Jme^icn. 
hnnvd  of  Uuhsh 

(la.  n7id{C]  l"-': 
munuvs  oj  thnr 
(vi-jiil  IVtronlhis 
lir'ed  violence  is 
p  hm  to  eii!!;(i;e 
>f  the  AtlmirMty 
this  te^ilil' <'!'}■  i 
ned  a  considmi- 

ly  nation,  tore- 
tuo.t  to  vrm\''^ 


only  liu  ^\^ync  liy  piin'^ltiii);  noil  riowniiii;  «ii  timsr  vKn  prrpnliitto  it 
rj"  tilt'  iH'IC  mirage  of  the  injutt-d,  after  a  lon^  cuutxe  i}f'  sfiviiii;  rtnd 
sutTiiiii^,  n  no  vo/ii/Himiui'n  for  lli>!  pa"',  iinil  no  .^cunit!/  Tor  l/n  ,/''* 
litre  it  IN  i>ii|>osNiiii(>  iiiit  to  iiftievr  tn.it  tii4>  ilrcijiivc  int' i  it-i  iMiru 
•t'  till  k;ovt'i'itiiii-iii  III  tins  it'S|if.t,  v\<Milit  |>ii\riit  ,i  |i  lU'liti',  ffw  run- 
tiuiimtce  of  wliicli  musl  ini:ril(i'dj  pradiue  tiicud  litticten  /ico  uaiion^, 
uliictt  ought  to  bf  the  fiicKits  of  vach  ot/fr 

"  ili>i!»f  MCaiiii  II  rt  li«»  Ntcif  lunn  lit  u  forri^ii  roiinliVv  '""'  li  »vf 
Iki'ii  iiil*)|iu<i  liy  (Ills,  Ml  10  iMlh«;r  tlu- 8uliji  ctH  vi'  Hiiiaiii  ur  «">\\o 
oiIht  jiortir 

"  I'lir  n-'hl  *o  ini'm'ss  lliitsi"  wh(i\v»'r««  !{•  ;ti>*ti  suli't.'ct*  Iijim  been 
assei'tol  ;  and  llii;  ngltt  (ti  iiiipMSs  tl)(i««>  oi'  i-viiy  olltii'  nation  Iiuk 
not  ttccii  iii8ciaiiii«-  i 

"  Sciilwr  th(  o)ic  prn.'tire  nor  ttn'  other  can  f)P j'tii'ijhd. 

"Willi  llif  iiitinaliiitiim  of  t'uuMniuT.i,  iio  oilu-r  niiiion  ran  intri'- 
fiic,  Ini  t'.ioi  til  Ml  tlu'  iirUih  of  111  ,t  otliiT  aic  iiir»ri«(|  'liu'  li^lils  i-f 
Bi  t.iiii  air  (Tit  tiii'y  iio(  ;ilVi'(  ti-ii  by  llic  nalui.ilizatioii  of  oilier  tiuit 
)>i,1.hIi  utiltji-its  CiMiscqtii'tilly  ll)oS(  ixTftoiis  wlio,  ad'ortiiu^  lo  our 
l,uv«,  itif  <■  ti/riis,  iiiiitil  \n-  HO  coiiKiili'ii'l  l>y  |{>  it  nn,  anil  every  uttici' 
jiukVLr  not  li.iviti<!  a  conflicting  (-!diiu  lo  llii-  (xison. 

"  ij'The  United  States^  tbeiofore,  require  positively,  titnt  their  xrrrnrn 
vhi)  arc  not  U  tiitfi  .fu/)Ji:ctSy  wlielher  born  in  America  or  etseiv/iere^  s/uitl  be 
txi'iipi  f'lom  impics^ineut 

"  ri\»' I  iisi  ol  Ijniisli  snlijicls,  wlntln  r  iintiir;»lizfil  or  not,  ib  more 
qiH  Ktmiialile  ;  but  the  ri'j^lii  evan  to  impress  tlivni  is  dmicd  'I'lic  jiiar- 
tueotilio  B  itisli  govcniiiii  lit  ilscif,  iinv  ccit.iin'y,  in  a  co.iliover- 
g\  »«itli  lliat  tjovi  rmncnt,  he  nlicilon  The  privil^  i^c^  ii  ctnims  (index- 
ticHC-.i,  ma<j  certatnlf  be  cr.tlcd  to  oltfrs.  J'^j"  I'o  den;j  this  would  be  In 
deny  the  e'liiaitly  of  nations,  und  to  ma/ic  it  a  question  ttf  power  and  not  qf 
rii;h 

'•  Iftli**  practice  of  ilip  Bi'ilish  govornmrnt  may  he  quoted,  tliat 
pnirliii'  is  lo  m  iintaiii  ai;ii  dcfi'ud  in  liicir  sca  scivice  all  Ihosr,  of 
tiiiy  II  (tion,  V.  ho  liuvt-  voluntarily  en^Hijcd  in  it,  or  w  ho,  act'oniin;^  to 
till  ii  laws,  h  ivi'  Wi  loiac  III  tisli  (inl'jcf  "s. 

"  All^n  semucn,  vol  liriiish  sufijeits,  enrrfined  in  our  merchant  service, 
vght  to  ba  equdllji  ecenipt  xcith  cmzt-ns  fioiu  tmpiessinenis :  uc  liivc  a 
ri;;iii  lo  ei:u;.i;;i>  ihfiii,  and  li  ivi  h  rii>lit  lo,  ami  an  niti'iesl  in,  tlicii* 
jiiisuiis,  lo  ilie  cxuni  of  lli«'  scincc  «Mn.tr:n  ted  lo  hi'  pcrfonii- 
i<\  j'Bntdin  has  no  pretext  of  n<;ht  to  their  persons  or  to  the  r  serrice. 
Cj*  'lo  tedT  them,  then,  from  our  p'.s<tes<t  on  is  nf  tite  same  time  an  o^ult 
«■'.(/ (r'  i'ljtt.i/  j^'f'l!  is  (tn  act  nf  I'K, fence  for  which  'here  exnta  no  palliittiiP. 
"  iVe  know  well  lh<t'  the  diffunlty  qf  dtilitiniiishinti  between  naUr« 
Amfiicans  tmd  British  ^uhjec's  has  been  used  with  reaped  to  natives,  as 
(in  ap'ii.oifjlfor  the  'njurie^  coniplame-l  (f  It  is  ndt  preicndi  d  tli  iJ  this 
apo  ony  cm  l»<'  «'Xlc;ui(rl  to  iln'  tasc  of  foici^jiu  rs  ;  nid,  with  KspiTt 
to  intnes,  ue  douht  tiie  cxistinrc  of  the  difK<o'ty  alir^jed  We 
kiioiv  well  thai  anioiii'.  that  cl.iss  of  pioi>le  called  st-anu'ii,  wc  vm\ 
HiKlily  di>tiiii:nish  ht'?v*e«'iia  nalMf  Anirncaii,  and  a  person  raised 
to  111  inhood  111  Gnat  ITiilain  or  Irehmi  ;  and  we  do  not  perc(  iif  any 
n'.iN'iii  ><liy  IhccapuUyof  mikinir  this  disliticlion  should  not  be 
possessed  in  the  sau>e  degree  by  one  nation  as  by  tiiu  other. 


&^is^ 


t-iikmm^'^ssr^--  ......  ^ 


:i  '■ 


I 


IS  I 


Tilt    Ul.IVfc-    iniANCH. 


k 


•'  If  lliciefoic  no  rrgiiliitioii  <ni«  lie  fornnjl  »»hit'h  1.I1.1II  iffuim,). 
ly  mruif  ull  kfuauii  tin  liii.inl  Atiici  ictii)  iiu-k  tiniiti.a-n,  (j  j  u«'  //«.« 
u  ri^ht  to  expiTl  fiom  Ifiv  jii.\luv  of'l/ic  Urilts/i  got  trnment,  J'lont  11%  n- 
^11  III  fin  the  frteniUltip  if  Ihe  I'ntful  Slater  uud  il$  oun  honuur^  that 
ti  u-tU  mantfint  the  unuenty  of  itn  uis/ies  to  ntiii'ss  thil  t(fft)ice,  by  '^'pw 
viiliinff  those  who  eommlt  tl. 

•*  \\v  lioiif,  liowfvcr,  tlut  an  agrccinf iil  may  be  vntrreti  into,  »^• 
liif.K  toiy  liiiJ  beitcticitti  to  bulli  puilifii.  The  arlicle  whi<li  ii|t|iciti« 
Iw  liiivt  bci'ii  IraiiMiiiiUfU  by  my  |iit'tJrriii«<ii,  while  it  sutisbin  tlim 
cuniitiy,  tvill  |irobiilily  rtatoit  tu  tlu-  iitival  service  of  Great  Biilnin 
n  ifrtiittr  iiiiinlx'i  of  Heaiiicn  ihaii  will  he  lost  l)y  it.  Shnubl  \vi  ivfH 
hv  iiiiftl.ikcn  ill  llns  lalniliition,  yii  the  diference  cutinol  he  put  tn 
luinipvlitiiin  H'ii/i  the  mi'diuf  uhivh  may  result  fioin  the  initation  junL'i 
txciltid  (>y  this  piacluCf  throughout  the  United  Slates.  TUv  cxlnn  tnut 
jii'^iMf  ul' thf  rcgfiiliiuiii  II  |iruiln<)s,  may  be  cstiniulfil  ih  BiiUiiii 
by  Mi<|ii'riii^  J^,  what  itiipre.isions  unutil  be  rnude  on  thttn  by  similtir  tju- 
tluc.  ori  the  part  qf  tins  g»i  eniment 

*'  X  )'  Should  tve  vnpies.^  frmii  the  merchant  service  i}f  Uiiluin  not  only 
Amii'Ciins  but  foreigntrs^  and  even  linli.ih  suojectn^  how  long  would  ^utfi 
a  Course  nf  injury  unredressed  be  permit  ltd  to  pas^  unreven^ied  /  Uow  l(>nf( 
ivould  Ihe  f>oi  cinnient  be  content  with  uusucctisful  remons/iance  ?  I  brlu  vr, 
Ml,  lb.it  uiily  tici*  nioht  |Mi)tii|fl  «'ori('('lioii  of,  or  t'oiiiptiiHatioii  fur, 
till  ali(i»i<>,  uotilil  bf  admituil  as  aahnfaciiuii  111  hul!)  a  raHv 

"  H  the  iMiiiriiile  nf  tliia  govei  iiiiiciit  forbid  il  to  iilatialu  by  ill) 
|ii<  Hsuu-nlK,  tbtif  is  )(M  'iiioiIut  niodf,  v\liirh  nii^hl  bo  resortid  to. 
\Vt  ini|;bl  atithiMizf  <uh  xbi))s  uf  war,  ihotich  not  lo  impress,  yit  to 
Meruit  Huilursuii  bcaKi  Uiitish  mtrrhanlineit  Surh  are  tbt  luiiiin'- 
nieulM  to  eiiler  111(0  our  naval  serviee,  that  we  believe  even  iliis 
piuetiee  Moulii  very  Herioiisly  allttt  (he  navigation  of  Untuin  — IIum', 
•  ir,   would  it  be  rceoived  by  the  Bridbh  nation  .' 

"  Is  il  not  ntoie  adviHable  to  de.-iiHt  from  and  to  take  effeelual  mca- 
fiirea  to  pretent  an  at  know  leilue<l  wroiitf,  ibau  by  peiM  veruix  e  in 
thai  « roiijj  XJ"  '"  t''rt'"e  ogaivsi  themseliei  the  welt  founded  resenln:^'"!! 
of  At/iencii,  and  foice  o<ir  ^ovcrninenl  inio  measures  which  may  tery  puni' 
bty  tennivaie  in  open  rupluie  /" 


u- 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Ttufm  Kln<i\  Esq,  to  the  secre- 
turij  of  stale,  dated,  LuiMun,  tebruary  23,  IbOi. 


'*  TliP  progreBS  which  had  been  made  in  our  nptj"<' '■•>•'""  **"''  ''''^ 
government,  was  sikIi  as  inu.tl  have  lii<nii;bl  il  to  a  stpeeily  eo.'fiii- 
»iou,  had  not  a  ri»;iiij;e  t  ikeu  pi.iee  in  the  itepartmeot  of  foreii;i)  af- 
fairs; that  ihe  iisuh  would,  i'l  tbe  main,  bavf  been  sntisfaetoi  y,  i» 
niorelbrin  I  am  aiith.-nzed  to  B-.y,  altliooah  I  H.ittered  ni\s«lf  «iili 
the  bopeih.W  it  would  be  so.  Loid  IH.  ksljiiry  assuies  on  tUal  lie 
will  uive  111  ihe  several  oubjeels,  lOiieh  li.ive  t.i  in  pretty  Itii!;,  dis- 
cuseed^  un  early  and  impuitial  considsralioii :  and  1  am  in  hopes  that 


1 

n 


')  Iti:    OLIVE    nRANCM. 


Ib3 


liinl  S(  Viiirriil  u'<|l  likcxviv**  Up  iiirlinril  Id'  alliMnl  to  our  riiln  .iti><l 
rriiioiisliiinn  <<  iiv;.iiiih(  tli*'  iiiipii'>Miiii;iil  of  uiir  siiiiiuii,  aiitl  llic  vcx- 
tlioiii  uf  our  tiudf." 

In  tlic  year  iRoo,  Mr.  Li  (Ion,  the  Britilh  nrmilU'r, 
I'libmitk'tl  to  Mr.  Ail.ims,  piiTuiciit  ol  t!io  Uiiitcd  St.itfs, 
A  l^toji't  v\  ji  treaty  toi  tliciniitii.il  delivery  ot  dido  tcrs, 
ol  whicli  I  annex  the  seventli  and  ninth  articles,  benig 
tliofe  whicli  alone  bear  on  tliis  lul  j.JCl. 

7  "  I(  in,  liowrvtT,  MMilt  r^looil  (tiit  llii<»  «lii>nlii»ion  is  not  to  oxtnid 
to  .MitlioiiHr  t'illii  I  ul'tlii'  pai'lK'S  li>  (Iciiiiiim!  iIii  <lt  litir\  of  tiny  txA- 
oiH,  s\il»j»'i  Is  or  i  itizciis  iM'loiii'ini;  li»  tin  nllitr  |>aity,  who  Irivc  /ircii 
cin|tloyi  (I  Oil  lioii.tl  till- veRKi'tK  of  i'lliici  of  lltr  n  >|)(  rlivc  iiatioikK,  mid 
nlio  li  ivt'  ill  titiii*  of  Will  or  llii(';it('iii<l  liosli|i|y,  voltiiirii  ily  fiiii  rt*il 
i;ilii  llio  snvirc  <if  llitir  own  so'-nnjii  or  iiiitiou,  »t  lutrc  Imn  cmn/xll' 
alio  fn/cr  titcicin,  accurdtng  lo  tin  l«Hs  'i.ul  practice  ymaiLin^  in  (Ikj  Iwo 
ounlrics  i<^ij»ec!irrly 

"  ll  iH,  liowj'vci',  Hiidri'^loml,  tliit  no  sti;Mil;ilion  in  lliis  mlilili- 
ricii  iirlii!c  sli  ill  lie  consti  <ii  il  lo  (>iii|):i  >v('r  iIm'  civil  o;  iiiilitiiy  of. 
fii'ti  K  uf  )'>tli<>r  of  i|it>  coutr.ul  111'^  partus  forciiily  lo  «iiU'r  inlo  Ilia 
jiuhiic  ahipt  of' war,  or  iiilo  llu'  foils,  !»ii  i  i^ons  oi  posis  of  »!;(•  i>llui* 
pii'y  ;  or  to  iis«'  vii'leiicr  to  tin-  |ji'rhoiis  of  tlic  liiiwl  or  kca  otiidis  of 
llic  rt  spiMlivf  II  itioiis,  w  illi  a  V  f  w  to  <'om|Hl  llio  ilt  hv<'ry  of  siitli 
pisoiis  !M  m,iy  liavi'  (IfstrU'il  fiom  llic  iK.vul  luilitary  bcivirc  of  i-itliiir 
piiiiy  as  iifurrs.iid  '' 

This  projet  was  fn'omitted  to  the  heads  of  departments 
.liiil  lo  the  attorney  general  ior  tlieir  opinions,  which  1 

fLilijoni. 


i 


.  J:i 


pi 


From  Tbnoih'j  nrlxerh);^\  Er-q.  ftpcretarj/  of  state^  to 
rresiJeiit  t/idums. 


Fthruary  00,  ISOO. 
"  Thf  Sfdcliiry  lia>  the  honor  lo  lay  heforo  IIm-  |iit>i(l,iit  Mr, 
LiMoii's  Doii;  of  ih-  4ili  F<ln  nary,  toii^i''^'''  ^^H''  '''s  |»i<'jt  "fa 
liialy  for  ihf  rr<  pro' .il  dfliveiy  of  dcscrlers  :  lYj"  nhicli  oppnars  to 
t\e:iecietwi/  ulleil,,  inailmi'sil/le,  UNLKss  IT  woL'LI)  PtT  AM  rndTO 
IMriUsi'MENTs — which  Mr  LiKtun  srcuifd  to  iniasuif— «;/ii/(?  tlie  se- 
u.'j///  panioKifi/i  of  I. is  p'ojel  e.i/i;e<</^  reco<>niz(S  llie  lii^ht  of  »«- 
;i'e««;>'g  liiiush  subjec  *•,   ami  constqiantlu  Awouan  cili<tns  as  u(  pif- 


16* 


J. 


i'i 


§' 


V 


I 

if 


M , 


]  » 


i«o 


THE    OI.IVE    nnANCII. 


B.  Sfohlard,  Esq.  secreinru  of  the  A^'avi/  to  the  Prc^ 

siiUnt. 

Fehninrt/    06,   1  sno. 
"  TIjp  RceiTtai  y  of  llir  navy  is  rleai  ly  of  opinion,  \],nt  (J^  il  \n  heU 
fri   (!•  have  ti"  -I'Mitt;,     .nd  mr- i  ,,ii  cnixcjiimrrs,  tli:,ii  not    o  cnume- 
file    men  hunt  >  (-"(f/v  r.n  the  i:tglt  sets,  among  the  thiiigi  not  to  be  Joicibl^ 
enlaeil  in  search  i>f  deseiiers  '' 

Oliver  Wulcolt,  Esq.  srcretnrif  of  the  treasury  to  the 

Preside-it. 

April  11,  1300. 
**  The  P'fji'J  of  n   hT,ily  pioposrd  by  ihe  minisW'r  o(  liis  Biiiaiinic 
nifljovy    for    liu'    rrc'piociil   ilelivi.ty  of  dcsit  ttrs  fiom   llic   laiiii  and 
naviii  - 1 :  vice   ^Ij"  t/oes  not  xuffidpiiifi/  ptot  ide  m^tiinsl    tlie  imprefsPttut  of 
Amcikn'u  seamen  ;  arid  is  t/ierejhre  deemed  inadi/nsnibi'e.'''' 

As  3  fnbOitute  lor  Mr.  Liflon's  article,  Mr.  Picker- 
ing piopo.ed  the  iollowing  : 

"  It  is,  Itowevcr  uixIn'Kloorl,  tliat  nnlliMif;  in  thrse  Rtipnlalions 
fihall  he  <ontitro«'l  tu  cnipower  thenvil,  militury  or  natiil  oH]tn>  of 
oiliitT  (»f  (he  contriiclio'^  pntius  fmcihly  to  cnlcr  into  the  liiiiloiy, 
forts,  {)0!*ls,  Q^  or  vessels  i*f  llic  other  parly — or  to  use  violence  to  the 
persons  of  llie  <:oHiini>n<iciA  or  the  ofHeeis  of  the  forls,  posts,  or  ves* 
scis  of  tlie  other  parly,  v  itii  a  view  to  cunipel  the  deliveiy  of  such 
persons  as  shall  deseit  as  afurcsuid." 

This  article  was  intcndet^  tYtlly  to  fecure,  frotrt  im- 
prediiient,  even  in  our  privvue  vefTels,  not  meiely  our 
own  citizens,  but  alio  the  fiil jjcts  ol  Great  Britain. 

Mr.  Wolcott,  fecrctarv  ot  tlie  trcafury,  propofed  a  fub- 
llitiite  for  the  aiticle  obji?cted  to,  ft  ill  more  clearly  and 
explicitly  annihilating  tiie  prctenfions  of  England  to 
iuipiefs  Teamen  of  any  defcription  on  board  our  vef- 
I'els. 

"  It  is,  however  nnderstood,  thnt  nothinsr  in  the  foiepioing  stipnla- 
tioiis  sti.ill  hi'  eoiist:tie(l  to  empower  tlie  civil  or  any  otiier  ftlKeeis, 
ofeitluM  party,  fi.rrihiy  t<»  enter  the  loits,  posts,  or  any  other  place 
within  iir  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  other  p«rty  ;  nor  to  empower 
thp  n»v,)l  e'MTini-inders  or  oti-.er  officers  of  either  paity  foredtly  to 
enter  <-•  y  public  or  piiinfe  ttsnels  of  the  other  parli/y  on  the  liij^h  »<<s, 
with  •  view  o  compel  the  delivery  of  iny  person  wliHttver:  on  tlie 
eonlraty,  it  is  expressly  declared  to  be  tbe  undcrstauUiug  of  Che 


tt. 


THE    OLIVE   IJRANCH. 


is: 


eBntrncting  parties,  iliat  the  miitnal  r<*:iuiliona  of  persons  clnlmcrl 
gs  (), St  litis.  kIiuII  oiily  be  made  by  tlie  lr«  o  Jind  xoliutarv  foitseiit 
of  tlie  ia''.it;rv  ofTii  eis  employtil  n  llie  hmd  service,  or  tlie  «oin- 
iDHiulers  nt  lite  public  or  piivule  sliips  or  vessels  of  tiic  two  purlies, 
Oi- ill  (Uii'&ua'icf  of  llie  ikcisions  of  the  coiirih,  judfjes  or  otlitr  c  ,'in- 
lift  ;iil  «ivd  oflkeis  of  the  two  nations,  in  all  cases  nrisiiiji  wiiliiu 
their  reisi>ettive  juiibiliclioii."  O.  WOLCOT'l'. 

James  M^IIniry,  secretary  at  War,  to  the  President. 


"  The  secretary  thinks  the  [nojet  of  Mr.  I^iston  may  be  suhstant!- 
allv  cceptetl,  except  thf  7lS  Hitide,  whith  Rceiiis  to  prov  de  thiit 
til  •  I'tiilC'l  States  shall  not  demand  the  ileliviry  of  .in>  suiioi-s,  hI- 
though  iht-ir  citizens,  if  they  have  hern  euip'oved  in  Rrilish  vessels, 
aivi  wiio  have,  in  liinc  of  ivtir  or  threatened  hostilities,  volniit.tnly 
cnleied  into  the  lliilish  service,  or  have  beei>  eoinpelied  to  ruter 
llierein,  according  to  the  law  und  pr.iClice  prevailing  in  (ireat  BritMiu. 
'I'his  article  is  very  inaciurately  expressed  ;  lor  it  s.iys  "  eniphtyed  or 
tntt-roil  i  to  the  service  of  their  own  sovereijjn  or  iiiuion  or  compelled 
to  niter  therein,"  hia.  fyl/thi/)  artids  m-ana,  vjhat  it  is  (ipl)ve- 
h-'inlrA,  it  dries,  it  is  ivhoUy  inadiwssifu'e.  It  eRfablisIa-s  a  principle  re- 
prubMled  by  t  lis  country.  1  he  eounin  proJM  of  ibe  secietar}  of 
btale,  ill  substance  meets  the  seii etary's  approliiitidu  ;  but  it  is  snb- 
luitltd,  whether  llie  adoption  of  part  of  the  draft  uy  the  secretary  of  the 
tieasiny,  will  not  improve  it." 

All  vvliich  is  respecltully  subiuiltcd. 


(>i<i;ned) 
Jfur  Department.,  Jlpril  1 8,  1 800. 


JAMES  M'HEXHY. 


"The  -ttorney  general  having  read  and  considered  the  letter  of  the 
sccrcuiry  o'' stale,  and  th  j.rojtt  of  an  article  drav\n  )iy  t!ie  Sccictarv 
of  Jie  treasury,  on  the  s  bje.r  of  deserU-rs,  uhi  h  are"pr.ipo«ed  lo  be 
sent  to  the  British  minister  here,  expresses  his  entire  nj)probaiion  of 
llic  same  " 


.Ipril  !0,  1800. 


CIIAULES  LEtk 


I 


;^4< 


\ 


I 


Here  is  a  body  of  teftimonv  that  cannot  be  with- 
ftood.  It  inefiitdbly  beats  down  an  odious  ptactice, 
wiiich  to  serve  her  purpofes,  faction  is  labouring  to 
foften  and  render  palatable.  But  the  men  who  plead 
its  caufe  in  Ameiica,  pofterity  will  unite  in  CDUflemn- 
ing  even  Ihould  they  efcapc  the  reprobation  of  their  cb- 
temporaries. 


t  ' 


^...m^i 


I 


f 


18() 


THE    OLIVE    BTlA\e!H. 


To  afford  a  rj)ecimen  of  the  treatment  of  fome  oi 
the  iinpreffcd  Anierican  (canicn,  \vl ofc  cafes  it  has 
become  tdlJiionable  to  treat  with  indifference,  I  fubirit 
extracts  from  authentic  documents  on  the  lul)ject  It 
will  mcontioveitlbly  appear,  tl:at  the  horrors  of  this 
odious  and  execrable  hufiness  of  inipreffment  have  liccii 
quintupled  by  the  odious  and  execrable  manner  in  whlcli 
it  has  been  conducted. 


W 


Eivtract  from  iJie  dcpn^Ulon  of  FAiphaht  JjtthL  srcohd 
ih flip  on  honvfl  ttie  Tliiiuias  anri  Sarah,  of  PIiihtdi'l]i}iUi, 
and  (t  niitivf  of  KxeU^r,  JWnc  Tlnmpithirc,  ^CJ"^  aurr'wcd 
to  a  report  to  congress  of  Timothy  Fick'ering\  Juq. 
secretary  of  state. 


Alugston.  .Time  13,  1790. 

«' Eliplijtlct  l-atUl  mii^etli  onth  tliat  on  Wcdiusfljiy,  tlie  1'2ili  ii  ?'. 
he  caiiii  on  shore  willi  two  stairiLMi  bt.-Ioiigin^  to  sh'hI  sli'p  dp.i'.k  i!  Jolui 
Kdos  and  Israel  Huodol,  in  ord(.r  to  land  »  hoiU  load  of  slaves;  tlnit 
{I  prtss  ^Hutr:  cjnue  n;>  and  luid  hold  of  John  Kdts — that  Q^j  oiu'  ol' 
the  pross  gtnif*  Hincd  .'"'Oddy,  iv/th  a  broad  ,iivoi  d  ciit  i/ifs  depoiifit 
011  the  f'ureheiul^  ;u\(\  tiiade  a  ^onnd  ot'thrti;  i  ches  'I  !l^•^  tlii  n  t'l'k 
deponent,  toLri.tlnr  with  Kdes,  jind  con(hicted  them  in  di!t'i;rt-nt  LvnUs 
nn  hoard  the  i>iniis«iik  mali  ot"  war;  that  the  hojit  on  IiohkI  of 
vhich  Kdes  v  as,  made  tlie  sliip  some  little  nine  bifnre  tlie  «iiic  de- 
ponent was  ill  :  jmuI  on  deponent's  neaiini;;  the  ship,  Q^^^' '"'  heard  the 
cnes  of  a  man  f'f>,j^-in q\  a  d  on  ;j;oini;;  up  the  side  of  thi  lirm^s'A  i  i*, 
he  I  ■     -         -  ■  - 


)eiceiv( 


:d   Ei 


s   M  ho  was  eninj;  ;   an 


Idressih"  liiniseil'  to  l!,e  lii>t 


lieutenant,  a  Viv.  Uaifis,  S!i\in}{.  here  is  a  man  vlio  cm  aftist 
to  w  hat  [  liavc  told  you.  The  lieuttimnt  then  laying  hold  of  I'cyu- 
neut  by  the  arm,  said  Ij"  p^o  alons' on  the  quarts'  deck.ynu  dumticd 
ruscul  ,•     v.Iiich    deponent   acroidnijjiy    flid  j     tiiiit    all     tlie      inpiiSied 

iind    aftei'wards  ovd<  red  hv    the  lienirn.tiit 


men   M'li-e 


t! 


tell   exaniineu 


into  thewnisl;  that  whnthiy  p;ot  tliere,  Edes  pulh  d  off  hih  ■^liiit, 
8!id  ,  iliotued  deponent  h  s  Ixiek,  •which  ivas  hrinsed  from  hiS  fhoiil- 
dsrs  to  hi-i  h  ps.  He  then  ivfimed  he  had  been  jvsl  it<  ppedwith 
Topes  endfi.  as  depon<  nt  \v:'R  golnii;  up  the  slops  sides,  h)  th  boafswuin 
and  Ins  inales,  hy  ordiis  of  ilie  li<  utetiant  ;  thrt  <lei)oi,ent  r*ui!iiiieil 
on  h'lari'i  to  llrnnswiek  '..U  tli.'st  day  and  the  ncx'  nij>ht,  (X"  during; 
ivliich  time  no  swjficu!  or  medical  asftistaice  -uHis  given  to  tlie  ■wnaut  he 
had  received  on  his  head,  nor  to  the  brn  ses  of  the  said  Edes,  vlio 
C;j^' during-  the  iiijiht  called  out  >ever!.l  tiivics  troni  extreme  puns. 
and  tlie  next  morning  was  barey  alilc  to  move  himseU';  that  betwein 
Jiine  and  ten  o'eloek  the  next  mornitiji'.  the  whole  of  tlie  impresstd 
men  were  again  ordereil  on  the  (pimter  d>  ik,  and  stationed,  t  xcejit 
deponent  and  Kdes  ;  that  while  the  examinalion  a  as  poiiig  <in,  tlie 
captain  of  the  Thomas  aiiU   Sarah  was   comisig  on  board  ;    tut  "sv.'s 


h,v 


•>vr«^ 


THE    OLIV£    BKAN'CH. 


181) 


ptrventctl  by  the  Iteiitenaiit,  who  oidfied  the  rentinci  to  keep  him 
oil;  liiiit  about  cirveii  uVlork  (he  ciiptuin  of  the  BiiiiiBwkk  came  on 
Ijoixil,  and  al  ihiee  o'clock  dcpniicitl  was  dischurged,  but  Edes  ic- 
waed. 

ELIPHALET  LADD." 
Sworn  it     .  e 
WillW'i  Savage,  Justice  of  the  peace,  &c. 

Uichaid  Carter,  of  llie  Pomona,  of  Poitsinoulh,  impreRsed  at  the 
s:t!sie  lime  with  Ladd  and  Cdes,  among  other  items  of  his  deposition, 
swnrr — "  he  was  violently  forced  into  a  boat  and  ^^  struck  tioue 
ut!h  a  drawn  cutlass  hy  one  of  the  ethcers  of  said  press  tf.nij;  aiwl 
iMO  iMcn  witl>  piutois  placed  over  ihis  deponent,  who  (Xjr*  loaded  their 


i 


the  said  ship  of  war,  tlie  Brnnswick,  and  Ihis  deponent  sailh  on 
i;i-ltin<;  on  board  the  Brnnswirk,  this  deponent  and  the  said  John 
Elks  were  ordered  to  go  on  the  quarter  de«.k,  where  Mr.  Harris^ 
tlip  first  lit  utenant  of  tilt- said  sliip,  abused  ibis  deponent  an<i  said 
Joliii  C(i(s,  nnd  gnve  ibciii  in  charp^e  to  the  master  of  said  ship, 
while  he  wetii  to  look  fur  the  bo'.tswuiu's  ni:t!c;  ami  tK>i)n  after  re- 
lunied  with  the  buaiswaiirs  niiKe,  whom  he  oulercd  to  lake  this 
(le)'Oiiei'.t  and  the  said  John  Ldus,  and  to  bcut  tbeni ;  in  obedience 
Lo  whiel)  orders,  'Iji"  the  said  John  Edeg  and  thi*  deponent  io( > e  sertte- 
I'j  beaten,  particultirly  'his  aeponent,  Xj'  the  said  boutswain''s  mate  daub' 
linyr  a  rope  of  about  three  inches  and  a  half  thick  and  ij^j"  beatine  thia 
ileponent  with  great  riclence  over  the  head,  foci',  neck,  .shoulders,  buck 
«nd  stomachy  unUl  h'hadtiriii  iiiniself;  a7id  then  .;'j' he  t>">e  the  imns 
rope  to  one  o/  the  manners  of  the  said  ship  Urunswic't^  and  he  also  sert-iely 
beat  this  deponent  in  the  same  manner  ;  and  thu  dtrponen!  sailh  .]  ;"  he  re- 
ceived npivards  of  a  hundred  blows;  and  was  thereby  greul  I  y  bruised,  tind 
!^y  his  fitce  cut  and  his  stomach.,  as  well  internally  as  extern, iliif  tnjuiedy 
so  that  this  deponent  \^  bi ought  up  a  quantity  o/ blood  (or  several' 
»lajs. 

Sworn  befoif  me, 

WILLIAM  SAVAGE. 

I  have  omitted  the  rcfKiue  of  this  (lepofition  to 
avoid  prolixity.  The  deponent  was  liberated  by  habeas 
corpus. 

Annexed  to  this  depofition  is  that  of  the  phyfician, 
wlio  attended  Richard  Carter,  who  declared,  that 

"  From  the  sitnution  in  which  he  found  the  said  Carter,  he  verily  be- 
lieved he  had  bet  n  ver>  seviMvly  boMtcii  soine  d^ys  previous,  h'S  b:  )0{1 
liciMg  very  niuib  ixii-nvfis-.ted,  iiri-l  from  the  appearance  ol"  the  briiiits 
it  must  have  been  tloae  v»ikl»  a  thick  rope." 


•  C^ 


^ 


in 


kM.i 


i  i 


190  IHM  OLIVE  BIlAXeU. 

■  * 

I  know  not  In  what  terms  to  pour  out  my  abhorrent? 
and  inciignaiion  at  the  dboJDinabJe  Iccncs  (lcj)ittcd  m 
the  preceding  depofitions  and  narratives.  Laiij^iugc 
fails  in  the  altcnipt.  Shame,  dilgr.ice,  difhonoui  and 
intamy  will  attend  the  councils  and  courifellors  ol 
America  for  the  base  I'ubminion  to  I'uch  monllrous  cru- 
elty. Tiie  outrage  ought  to  have  been  met  at  t'.ie  tiirelh- 
old — the  fu flercrs  ought  to  have  been  tompcnirJtcd  M  the 
public  ex.  encc,  that  is,  as  far  as  fuch  horrible  inju- 
ries can  be  compensated — and  a  demand  made  for  re- 
payment of  the  money  thus  employed.  And  if  not  com- 
plied  with,  full  and  complete  retaliation  ought  to  have 
taken  place. 


kl-.-^ 


CHAP.  XXill. 

Tmpra^smeni  durhnj;  thp  Adminhtrulion  of  Mr.  Jr^cr- 
son.  Li'fUr  J'rovi  fi'i(fits  K'luf;:^.  Jrrunf^evirnt  n  llh  Lunl 
/St.  Virn'erit,  r-ji'L'i(t>  b'j Mr.  King;.  Mnnurials  from  Sn- 
hm,  ./W.'r -{';<■/»'.  Vailmldphia.  JJattimore,  anil  JWwha- 
Vfii.  M'lrdpr  cf  Captiiin  Pcorce.  Proceedings  of  Fe- 
deral lirpuLdiciins  oj  t/vVit'  York. 

From  Ri.fin  King:,  Esq.  to  the  Secretarr/  of  Stale. 


m 


r  (I 


"Siti,  J\'eiv-Yor!c,    .fiili/,  UQS. 

*'  I  I;  kc  (lif!  li'd'if)'  to  ailil  a  few  nnsccllaricuus  articles,  by  wa)' of 
8Ui)i>kiiiciit  to  iiiy  hust  ilespHtch. 

AMERICAN  SRAVfEN. 

**  As  soon  as  tlie  war  apliciuicl  to  me  unavoidable,  T  tlioHcrht  it 
mUis  !'!('  to  iL  new  ihe  hiIi  ni])t  li»  form  an  arrangt'inent  «itii  t!ie 
Br  I  -!i  |i,")>  Tipinent  for  tli.-  prott-rtio;!  of  otir  S(iiiii<!i  Willi  I'lis 
Vi  v\  i  liH  I  Sf'MiMl  ronferi  ncfb,  both  witli  lord  Hawk^bur*  ant)  Wr. 
A;i'iiit;;tfi!i  who  avowed  a  s.ini-cie  d  .spo>  tion  to  do  wiritt'vt-r  nj'glit 
lie  ,n  their  f»i\vir  to  pi '  vcnt  the  dissalistaetioiv  on  this  subject,  i  fit 
lirtii  so  til  (]Mi  ntl\  nwiiiifi'8'e<'  itself  du;  iiig  tltv  late  war:  xtil/i  very 
Cuiili-i  fir>,f  ss/rjiis,  J,  however,  foil  d  sevcrn[  objections,  in  discu-s"!,' 
Ihi'  jiioji'l  wiih  til  first  lord  of  ihe  admiralty.  Lord  Hiavk'-bmy  iiMving 
pr'iiiiisiil  lo  si}!;ti  -mu  Mgreemcnt  upon  tile  subject  that  I  should  I'ni- 
cluiit  with  onl  .^t  V  ineeiit,  I  endejivotired  to  qualify  and  renin\e 
the  objfiu  iis  hv  f\if:  led  to  our  |)r«iji  I,  and  fii.ally,  the  <!><y  bifir  I 
Itft  Loudon,  lord  St.  Vincent  consented  to  tUe  following  regulations  — 


'^^y<;r^.t. 


abhnrrcncr 
ilcpittcd   in 

honour  a\u\ 
rifeilors  ol 
illrous  cru- 
t  tlie  tiirelli- 
ifritcd  dt  the 
nihle  inju- 
iido  tor  re- 
it  not  com- 
gilt  to  have 


THE    OLIVE  BRAVeW. 


l«t 


Mr.  Jrffir- 
^  u  Ith  J.vrd 
Is  from  Sa- 


ui^s 


f  Stale. 

nil/,  1803. 
its,  by  way  of 


"1,  Xo  senman  or  spafKrinsr  pcrR'in  sliall,  '"^ufifin  the  hi'/h  ann^, 
tn  I  iviihout  the  Jiiristliction  of  either  purti/,  hv  <l  iiruiilf  il  or  taken 
out  III"  aiiv  shil>  or  vessel  bi'|(>iis;iiii;  In  ihc  <  izins  or  subj  cts  nf  one  f 
I  he  pHrlies,  J' hit  the  pabhc  or  pr<- ate  avrnml  ships  or  men  of  -war, 
Ijilongiiig  to  orin  the  vervi  ,■  oftlic  olla-r  purlv;  ninl  strict  onleis  sliall 
be  o;iven  tor  tlie  <lue  ol)S'  rvmice  of  this  ••'i;;  i^cmeiit. 

"2  Kach  p«riy  will  prohihit  its  citiz-'ns  op  snlijects  from  claii- 
ilestinely  concealing  or  carrying  away  From  the  tt-iiituries  or  colo- 
nial possesiions  of  tho  other,  any  seamen  belonging  to  the  otiier 
T.arty. 

"3.  These  regulations  shall  be  in  force  for  five  years,  wa\  no  lon- 
ger, 

•' On  partinu;  with  his  lordship,  I  ene;p:ef1  to  draw  »p,  in  the  form 
of  a  conventiop,  and  send  hini  tluse  arilele*,  ni  llie  cniirse  of  the 
creniirj;,  who  pi'omised  to  f.rwud  thim.  with  i  is  approltation,  to 
inn!  Ilawkshury  I  »•  enrMinf^ly  [ireparcd  atid  sent  the  rii-iift  to  his 
|(ir!s!iip,  wlio  sent  me  a  letter  in  the  course  of  t!ie  iiij^Iit,  statin/  that 
on  i'nrlliur  reflection  he  was  of  opinion,  that  /'  the  narrn-uf  seas 
shnn'd  he  exprenn'ij  f.rccpted,  they  havinjv  been,  as  his  lordship  re« 
m:irkid  inuuemori  dly  consi  lere.l  to  he  within  the  domhiion  of  (Jrent 
llr^tnin;  tiut  with  this  correction  he  had  se'it  the  proposed  convention 
to  lord  llawksbur  ,  who,  his  lord.shI()  pi'-snmed,  svoiild  not  siiiti  it  bc- 
i'm-f.  hi  siiould  have  consulted  the  judge  of  ti»e  higii  court  of  ailmiiuliv, 
!^ir  William  •^rotl. 

"As  I  iiud  biipjiosvd,  from  tfie  tenor  of  my  conferences  with  Lord 
St.  Vincent,  tliat  ihe  doctrine  of  I'le  mare  clutisum  would  u'tt  be  revived 
aE;ainst  us  on  lliis  occasion,  but  that  England  would  be  content  wirii  the 
limited  juri'.diction  tn*  d  iniuion  over  the  seas,  adjacent  to  her  territo- 
rius.  whifii  is  assit^ned  by  the  law  of  nations  to  wJier  states,  I  was  not 
a  little  disappohiled  on  receiviirj;  this  coinnmnicution  ;  an  '  after  wei;,;h- 
iiig  well  the  ni^ture  ot  the  priiciplc,  ami  tlie  disadvantay;es  of  its  admis- 
sion X!ir  ^  concluded  to  ahandon  the  nesrociution  rather  than  to  tiC' 
qniesce  in  ih-'  doctrine  it  proposed  t'*entahlish 

"  I  regret,  not  to  have  be  n  a!)i.  to  pu'  this  business  on  a  satisfacto  y 
Ordin';,  knowing,  as  I  do,  its  very  threat  imp  ^fiance  to  both  parties  ;  but 
1  fl  tier  myself  l!iat  I  liav  •  not  inl-^juiKjcl  the  iutfi-est  of  oui'  conntry, 
([j*  in  rejuximr  to  sanction  a  principle  iliat  in  grht  be  produttive  of 
more  extensive  evUs  than  thjse  it  xvus  our  ann  to  prevent.^* 


n 


i  *i 


,  T   tlioucrlit  it 

icnt    « itn  t!ie 

n       W  iih    I 'lis 

-b  ir»  and    Wr. 

Iritevtr  ni'glit 

i    subject,  t   at 

:.  ilh   very 

in  disin-s"!,' 

.k'hury  li.'iviiig 

1  shnulil  ('111- 

y  and    reni'ne 

<li.y  befr    I 

regulations  — 


This  is  an  importJint  document,  and  Tnud  not  be  over- 
looked in  formint*-  a  dc'Ciuou  oti  tue  queftion  of  im- 
preiftnent.  Mr.  King  is  united  with,  and  a  leader  among- 
thofe  men  who  are  tiiiiitinif  down  Mr.  Madifon,  and 
preparing  the  wav  tor  anai  chv  and  civil  war:  and  tlie 
chiet  pretence  istiie  ftind  Mr.  Madifon  has  made  atraifift 
imprefsment.  Nevertuelefs  we  find  it  indi(putably  true, 
that  :nore  tiian  one  h-ilf  o*  tlie  miferies  ot  onr  poor,  op- 
preffed,  and  cntlaved  feanien  arc  chargeable  to  the  ac- 


f/1 


1 


1U2 


THE  OLIVE    BRANOH. 


t/.J. 


count  of  Mr,  King  himfelf.  And  whatever  mav  be  ilic 
jnalcdi6lions  which  his  fiicnds  are  fliowering  dow;j  upon 
Mr.  Madifon,  a  double  portion  of  them  have  been  richlv 
oarncd  by  Mr.  King.  For  wc  find,  had  lie  been  fo  dif. 
jjofed,  he  might  have  refcued  our  failors  from  the  hor. 
rors  of  fl^vcry,  every  where  but  on  the  narrow  fcas, 
which  would  hjve  greatly  abridged  their  fufTerings,  as 
well  as  o\n-  complaints  again  ft  Great  Britain.  And  yet 
now,  wilh  a  moft  wonderful  and  hideous  degree  of  in- 
confiftency,  he  is,  as  1  have  ftatcd,  perfecutiug  and  try- 
ing to  crulh  Mr.  Madifon  for  the  attempt  to  protefl  our 
fearnen,  in  whofe  favor  he  formerly  difplayed  fuch  a 
high  degree  of  folicitude. 

Extract  from  a  memorial  of  the  inhabitants  of  Salem, 

January  20,  1806. 

*•  Your  memorialists  arc  sorry,  that  other  instances  of  hostile  conduct 
have  been  mnnifestf.d  hy  Great  Britain,  tess  direct  in  their  natiiii;.  Iiut 
not  1«  93  dcroa:ntorv  from  r>\\r  soven  igntv  ll»an  (hose  t  lumeialcd. 
flCjTHE  IMPRK/sSMENT  OF  UUR  WE  \  MEN  voiwthstand- 

ing  clear  proofs  of  citizenship,  the  violation  of  our  jiirisdittion  liy  t;,p. 
tures  at  the  nioiilhs  of  our  harbouis.  and  insnltii.g  treatiiiei.t  <if  otir 
ships  on  tlie  ocean,  are  subjects  worthy  of  the  serious  consideration  of 
our  national  councds,  and  will,  we  have  no  doubt,  receive  itn  early, 
prompt,  and  decisive  attention  " 

Sig;ned  in  b  half  of  the  inhabitants,  by  their  authority. 

•fobn  Hatliorue,  Kenjamin  Crownitishield,   junr. 

.j'>s>  pli  S^t    ignr,  Joseph  Whit.  ,  junr. 

Jonathan  Mason,  Joseph  Story. 


Extract  from,  a  memorial  of  the  general  meeting  of  mar- 
.  chanis  of  JSTew-Yorlc^  Dec.  26, 1805. 

•*  Tlut  it  is  not  on  account  oi'  our  pecuniary  losses  «lone  that  we  com- 
plsin.  The  const  iincy  and  vaoitv  of  the  seamen  of  the  United  Stat:  x 
are  justl}  thtuips  o;  patriotK-  exultation  From  then-  comiiXion 
■with  U8,  lue  consider  their  cause  as  our  cause;  their  rights  as  our 
ritrhts  {  their  interests  as  our  interests.  {^  Our  feelings  are  indig- 
nant at  the  red  ai  of  their  -wrorigs.*' 

This  beautiful  and  fublime  piece  of  compofition, 
which  does  equal  honour  to  the  head  and  heart  of  the 
writer,  is  figned  by  a  committee  of  forty-nine   perlons, 


\a 


HIE    OLIVK    nUANCH. 


193 


whole  names  may  be  fccti,  p.ige  jj.  Many  oF  tlicfc 
gentlemen  nave  bctrdycd  their  honour.  '1  liey  have  \u)i 
icilecmeci  tlie  pledge  that  accompanied  tins  tuorceau. 
i'licv  have  done,  and  aie  now  (h)inga!l  in  their  power  to 
tditen  tiie  hoirorsot  inipreirmcnt,  with  adamantine  chains, 
o'.\  thole  ilhillrious  men  "  whole  canie — whole  rights 
— whole  int<.Tells — they  confidered  as  tiien'  own  Cc.uie — 
their  own  ri'jjhts — their  own  inteiefls."  For  no  man  be- 
\ond  the  rank  ot  an  ideot,  can  doubt  that  every  Itep taken 
t')  cripple  tlje  government — which  game  they  are  now 
piiving  on  a  large  Icale — is  a  liep  towards  laying  the  na- 
tion, tied  neck  and  heels,  at  the  feet  of  England,  to  pre- 
ijiibe  what  terms  Ihe  pleafes,  and  ot  courle  to  perpetuate 
the  miferies  ot  impreilment. 

Extract  from  the  memorial  af  the  merchaids  of  Fhilaihl- 
jihUi  to  Congress,  Jjecember,  ISOj. 

"  Thai  our  seamen  should  be  cxposedio  /AeMKANEST  INSULTS, 
ANI>  MOST  WAN  ION  CUUIiLTI  l',S,  and  ihe  frmis  o*"  on.  iii- 
liiishy  .-iikI  » iitt'rpnzi',  f.ill  a  prey  t"  ll»«'  pioMijriile,  <•  immt  but  t'Xiite 
biiUi  tVoliiiij;  ami  iiidi;j;iiatiuH,  aud  cuil  luudly  fur  ihu  aid  und  protec- 
tion of  ;;oviiruinciit  " 


'  t 


Some  of  the  gentlemen  who  figned  this  petition  ftand 
111  precifely  the  lame  (ituation  as  lome  of  the  fign  'i  m 
Nevv-Yoik.  The  oblervations  made  on  tliefe — of  courfe 
apply  to  thofe. 

Extract  from  the  immnrial  of  the  merchants  of  Baltimore, 
dated  Jannari/  21.  180(). 

"Your  memorialists  wil!  not  tit-npass  npon  yoiir  fimo  willia  rfcilal 
of  lilt- vHnous  acts  by  wliich  our  cuaHlK  iiimI  cvfn  our  port-  a«id  liar- 
botirs  l)av«'  been  convtrled  inlo  s<ein's  of  violence  and  deprcdattHn->- 
aiid  ^j'  our  gallant  countrymen  oppressed  und  persecuted." 

Extract  from  a  memorial  to  Cons:rpss  of  the  merchants  if 
JVeivhaven,  agreed  to  hYoraar^  T,  1805. 

"In  rrjjird  to  Tj*  the  impressment  of  AnierUan  seamen,  ymir  mC' 
woriuliits  feel  in  common  with  their  felloio  citizens,  a  lively  indi^^nation 

17 


i94i 


TJIE  OMVE    RRAXeil. 


M 


at  the  alufr%  of  poncr  cften  exe'CfeJ  bij  British  rfficerf  :ipon  Ai/tcrkan 
viiizrn^  W  <  lnvc  mil  «  onH.ifiK  <■  i  lial  llii  ami  .  i  in.iit  «il  tlir  I'  ittd 
S'tttcj  w  ill  ailt.|ii  iumI  |>MisiuKnrU  iiumsiiiih  foi  n  t'  i  ninit  'In8«;i  ju- 
lioiis  |»i()ce»iliiig9  us  the  lioiiuiii  auii  inUrist  of  the  Uniled  Stalci 
miy  itquire." 

After    the    murder    of    capt-.in    Pcarce    hy    captain 


'A'hitl 


)V.  <) 


f  tl 


0   LcMiuler,  within  the  junkliHion  ot  the 


United  States,  tlieie  were  meetings  hehl  in  various 
]).iits  of  the  country,  to  cxprcfs  their  abhorrence  of 
tlie  outrage,  'i'here  was  on  the  26th  of  April,  1806, 
a  mimcious  and  very  rcfpe^able  meeting  of  fcde- 
ralifls,  at  tlic  Tontitie  CofFee  Houfe  in  New  York, 
wlio  appointed  Ruins  King,  Kbenezcr  Stevens,  Ohvcr 
Wolcolt,  William  W.  Wooifey,  and  William  Hcnder- 
fon,  to  draw  up  and  report  a  fet  of  refolutions  for  the 
occafion.  In  their  report,  which  was  unanimoufly 
agreed  to,  was  tlie  following  philippic  again  It  the  ad- 
miltration  ior  permitting  imprcninent,  among  other 
grievances. 

*'  Rrsolvcd,  Tliat   the  snfftring  fnieipri   armed   ships   to  station 
Ihpnisclvfs   <)fV  our  harbour,  and    ihtrt*  lo  hIo|i,  scurch,   ami  rn|)iuie 


on 


r  Vessels — to   IMFRI'SS.   wonml,   and    mnrdpr   01 


citizens,  is  a 


gross,  and  niniinii'  ui'fi[ltct  of  the  higlicst  dntts  of  uoveriimcnt ;  and 
that  an  adininistriition  which  patiently  permits  the  same,  is  not  tU' 
tilled  to  the  conjideiice  of  a  brave  and  f, ee  ptopleV 

Some  of  my  readers  may  not  know — but  it  is  per- 
fectly proper  that  all  (liould  know,  that  captain 
Whitby  was  brought  to  trial  in  England,  and  honourably 
ac([aitted.  For  the  murder  of  Pearce,  no  atonement 
has  been  tPiade.  It  flill  cries  Ihame  and  difgrace  on  his 
countrymen. 


Deposition  of  Isaac  Clark, 


"I  l< 


Isaac  Clark,  of  Salem,  in  tlie  county  of  Esse*",  and  common- 
wealth of  Massaehiisetls,  on  solemn  oath  declare,  that  1  was  horn 
ill  the  town  of  Randoipti,  in  the  county  of  Norfolk  ;  have  sailed  eut 
of  Salem  aforesaid,  ahont  seven  yeais;  tliat  on  Ihe  HthofJune,  ISOj), 
I  wiis  impressed  and  forcibly  taken  fron*  the  ship  Jane  of  Norfolk, 
hy  Ihe  sailing  master  (his  name  was  Car)  of  his  n»ajtsty's  ship  Por- 
cupine, ilobcrl  Elliot;  commander.     1  had  a  protection  from  Ihecus- 


THE    OLIVE  nUANClT. 


195 


torn  Itoiise  in  Sah'm,  mIikIi  I  Nlio\v<'(i  lo  cnptain  I^lliit  :  he  wore  t hut 
I  u\is  tin  litii,li.\/iiniiiif  lore  my  pioiecHon  to  jmi'ts  6e/ore  my  (j^i.t,  uixi 
t/utiu  I,  oruihoU'Uy    mil  OKli*  Cil    in^     to   [;*>    to    vtoiU       i    toltl  li.iii  i  uni 


lll.t   !>•   loii;'  til   lli.s  tla^ 


Ulll 


1   1 


U  (HI 


I<1  «li>    no  tvoik    otnlir    il.       til     III! 


OTiutmd  my  lf.<>s  to  hu    /iitl  in  iiom,    and  the  ntxt   ■immnfi  unic/eJ  iht 

(I  gie  iH'  two  lioim    jiiJies -y    .iIki- 


imis'.er  ul  urins  to  take  tiii:  on 


dtx/c. 


an 


ri't't')vtii|{  ihriii,  hi-  oiiliiiti  liiMi  lo  kii'i'  nif  iii  imh.s,  tunl  t;ivr  uu! 
one  Uisiii.l  unci  one  |iiiit  nt  w.tUi  Im  J4  liotiiu.  Alt  i  ktrjiio^  iiic  hi 
tins  duiatiuii  oui'  wiik,  I  ^viv  itrotiulit  on  (lit  k,  .tnii  a!>kitl  l>y  r;i|i. 
taiii  l:.Miol,  It  I  \\oulil  40  t'>  Ml V  liiiiy.  <>n  my  itt'iiMni:,  lo'  oiiliidl 
iin'  I'l  ."tiiit,  titd  me  up  a  .nco'iii  lime,  and  <j,ine  me  Ino  (tnzcii  i/:t)ie, 
aihl  kejH  lilt  on  'III'  s.iiiK  .iM(it«anir  ..iiotliri  wctk — Itii'n  onli'iiil  uu; 
oil  (in  k  .i>;<iiii,  .isUkI  rl  I  uoiiUI  j^o  ki  v«oik;  1  iHli  |insiAtei)  ili.ii  ( 
U4X  an  Anicrnaii,  iiin!  ilial  lie  liail  00  n^lit  lo  tiMUiiiaixi  my  sfivi- 
nff  MUii  1  nmilil  ito  00  vtoik  00  Itoarcl  ins  tilii|i.  ilr  loUl  mi  \\r 
wiui  (I  (jnoisli  me  iinlil  I  mus  miIIiii};  to  work;  aun  ^ure  mc  l/ie  t.'ittd 
two  dozen  lushes,  oiueicd  a  very  lieui  f,  cliuii)  fit  round  tnij  neck,  (suck 
(1.1  they  had  used  to  sUng  the  lixvtr  ijiirdj  J'usteiud  to  a  mit;  ho(t  m  tin: 
deck,  uikI  ili.it  no  |)ti»oo,  ex- c|it  liio  iiiaslci' .il  .hiiin,  bliotiUI  spi  ak 
to  III'.',  or  ^ive  me  any  lliinu  10  cat  or  lirink,  IxU  om«'  diji  till  ami 
pint  of  water  Cor  iX  Iiouih,  iir.ti  1  uoiii))  t^o  to  woik  i  v«.is  k<-|>t  lit 
tilts  kilualioo  i'i<»  iiiii«'  vvi^ks,  uliiii  l.tii::^  cihaus'i'd  hy  hu'imr  <tnd 
thirst,  I  vvas  ubli^rd  to  y u  ill.  Al'iii  luiiit;  on  liu.iiil  liu'  slti|i  iikim* 
than  two  yiaiB  ami  a  tialf,  tiinl  ii«iii|»  7coitnued  in  en  uclion  with  a 
frfnch  fhtiute  I  «as  stnl  lo  tin-  lio>|iUal — a  lu'ii  parliaily  lecovti- 
cil,  1  w.iH  SI  lit  on  boaiililie  ImpiicnabU ,  ^is  ^iiii  »ilii|j  My  jvoiaid 
griiwitio  tuorse,  /  teas  relUDied  lo  the  ho.yjila!,  '^Ihii  ilic  Amt'ruMii  ton- 
iiul  it-rt'ivetl  a  copy  of  my  |ii(itt  1  tioii  tioiii  S.iUni,  and  |iiiic«ncil  my 
tlisriiarjje,  on  lite  vjytli  .1  ly  nf  A|>iil  i  ist.  'rinic  wert'  scvoii  iii|. 
pi'i'syt-d  Aiiieriians  oa  boaid  llie  Puicupuie,  llnccof  whom  bad  ea- 
lertd." 

ISAAC  CLAUK. 


V 


i' 


Essex,  ss    Dec  23,   18  12. 

"  Ihco  Itittar  Claik  p<'rsoi)nlly  appeared  niul  made  solemn  oath 
tb'il  the  I'acis  in  tlie  tuiitioiii;:  di  claiiition,  by  bim  made  and  suLt.iCtj.. 
bid,  ivtic  true  in  ull  tb.  n  parts — li  ton- 


UiNCHARD,^  Jnsltie.s  ot  the 
rNisitND.        3      andot'aciji 


JOHN    PL  i\  CHARD, 
M.   lOVV 


peace, 
{uuniiu. 


From  Com.  Eodgers  to  the  Secretavu  of  the  JS^avij, 


U.  S.  Frigate  Prendenf,   Boston,  Jan.  14,   1813. 


Hit, 


**  Herewith  you  will  receiTe  two  muster  booke,  of  his  Britnnnit: 
iinijesly''s  vessels,  Aluselle  and  Sappbo,  t'ouiid  on  board  the  British 
p.K  ket  Swallow 

^^  As  the  British   have  always  denied  I  hut   they  detained  on  hoar  f  I  heir 
■ships  of  wary  American  citizens^  knowing  them  to  be  such,  J  send  you  ike 


t    if' 


,190 


THE   or.IVE    BllAKrM. 


tmlosetl,  t7,»  u  fiuhlic  thr  umcnt  of  l/tcir  oHii,  to  prove  how  ill  iuch  an  titfi- 
tivn  taciinli  iviJi  then  jJimhtf, 

"  It  Mill  .i|i^*'.ir  It)  till  Ml'  lM(i  iiiiiKtrr  hooks  tli.it  Nu  laic  an /(i/:;u(t 
lu.«l,  aliotil  ai>  eighth  \i:\it  uH  tlie  .Mnscllc  uml  S.ip|tU(r»  iit-vs  viirc 
Ain^itcans  \  cmim  ijnt  mly,  il'  tlicif  ik  niiiy  a  r|ii:ii'l«'r  pn  I  of  tli:»i  pio- 
|i>iilioii  uii  liunitl  llu'ii  olltcr  vissiJM,  thai  llu-y  \\.>\v  itii  iiitiiiiltly 
i;ifaltr  riiiaibct- «it'  AiiurK'i.ittt  lu  llu-ir  sirvue  lliuii  any  Aiiici  auit  lias 
)i  t  liuil  an  iilca  of. 

"  Any  ruitlicr  luiinnnit  of  miiip  oti  tliis  siihjrrt,    I  consiilci'  iiniic. 
(Cbsary  ;  uh  iIu'  ciulo.>t'(l  ilocnitu  nis  Hpi-itk  too  |tluiii   fur   IIm  iiisrlviN 
"  1  tiavf  tlio  iioiioiu  lu  t)(',  jSic. 

(Siu'iinJ)  J  NO.   UOIJGKKS 

"  Tlic  l)oiMMii;»l.li'  r.inl  llMiii'.lon, 
S(Cit:aiy  of  tlie  Nivy." 

'•  I  Hnkmaii  Vcr  Piank  irPYuni,  of  llir  louii  of  Poiijhkrrpsic, 
ilo<'nlif\,  (tiat  I  am  .1  III  iiiciiiiH  III  l!ii  I'liitt'd  Sl.itc^  iiav\  ;  lliil  i 
was  .1  l.riilriKiiil  on  Iti'iai'tl  l!ii-  (Jo  .si  i'ihmmi  in  ilii'  aition  ami  riipliiif 
ul  liir  Java,  and  vviis  si' it  on  lioarti  llnii  vi'ssi'l,  und  uflt't'  (lie  crew 
wvtv  icaiovi  il  .s( )  licr  on  tne  anil  lilew  lii-i'  up. 

«'  Amni.s:  till- I'lTW  oftiiiJav,.,  gj' Til  ll{  F  F.KN  I.MPRRsSF.D 
AAIF.KIC.AN  Sl'..\.VIKN  vmh'  fimn-l,  iliri'f  of  « lioiii  had  inliicl 
the  Uiilish  sL'i  vu  (',  and  wvic  left:  the  other  ten  xert'  libciati'il  a.<i 
Aniericaiis." 

U    V    HOFF.MAN. 

Daled  Ponj^likfcpsic,  April  iG,   1313. 

Cumpnlsury  service  nf  impresupd  ^Iviericans  on  boaril 
Jirilish  sliii/a  of  war. 

Dutchess  Cuiiuti/,  ss. 

"  Richard  Tlioinpson,  hti'.ijst  sworn,  sailh  Uni  hn  isanalivoot" 
Nf'.v  P;ili/,  ..ppiisiW  Pou:;lik.  cpsie  ;  lh.it  liu  saiiid  from  Wilriimi;- 
ton  fiinnil  (III'  ualii  of  .Ajnil,  I8|(»,  on  hoard  ihc  \>\\j,  Wancn,  Wm. 
Uilly,  iMpiiiii,  for  Coik  On  Ihi'  homeward  piiiisa;;i'  in  SipU'iiihrr 
f.iiliavinj;,  he  wns  inipressod  and  lakin  on  hoard  llie  Piaiock,  a  Brit- 
ish sloop  of  war,  and  roiupi'licd  to  do  liis  duty.  That  «hilc  on  hoard 
that  vtssil,  he  in;ide  many  nnpucressfnl  uliempis  to  wrile  to  his 
friends,  to  inform  them  of  his  sitnalioii.  He  furllicr  saiih,  that  af- 
ter he  had  Ucard  of  the  war,  himself  and  two  other  impressed  Ameri- 
can so.Tinen  wlio  weie  on  board  ihe  Peacock,  went  aft  lo  ihe  laptaii), 
and  claimed  to  he  considered  as  American  priKoners  of  war,  and  re- 
fused to  do  duly  any  longer. 

**  Thry  weifi  ordered  oft"  iheqiiaiter  deck,  ami  llio  captain  called 
for  the  mssler  at  arms,  and  or<lered  ns  lo  he  pnl  in  iions  j  we  « re 
then  kepi  in  irons  about  twenty  tovir  hours,  wlieii  we  werK  •akeiiout> 
brou({ht  to  the  gangway,  Q'j^  stripped  of  our  ctnihes,  tied  and  (TS  ^<'"''^'' 
ped,  eath  one  dozen  and  a  hut/  Ituin'Sy  at,d  ;;«<  !o  iluti/. 


'\-i-*^ 


il^l 


'I'ME  OI.IVE  IlKANCM. 


[107 


/c7<  an  9t<ift' 


♦•  Ho  ftirllicr  SMilli.  (Iii«f  he  was  kciif  on  bnaitl  tlic  I'cftcock,  nnd  iliil 
(hilv  till  lliL-  tutiou  uiih  the  llnnut;  itfitf  «ln-  llonift  lioisUMJ  AnuTi- 
c:iii  colours.  In-  ■.nd  ilic  ollie  |-  iiiii)i»nsLMl  Ainjiirniis  i»j;aiii  wi'iit  to  ihu 
iMjitHiii  of  iho  I'l-acock,  ««kt<l  to  hr  sent  Ixlow,  sai.l  it  w:ih  :iii  Aiiicri- 
(Mii  slii|j.  an<l  thitt  lliev  <li(l  not  wish  to  fi;;lit  i.fjnmst  their  I'oiinti'y. 
Til- tMliliiio  onli'i'cd  us  to  ')iir  nuiirt<'r8  ;  Citlleil  thid  hiiimmi  S  om  to 
do  his  dntv  ;  and  if  wc  did  not  do  oiif  tinty,  to  li'mo  our  bnunit  nw  ; 

•'  nvi   ay>'  !"  was  niiswi  rod  hy  Stoiio,  who  then  held  a  pistol  lU  mif 

lircuxt,  nni\  ovdt  icd  us  lo  "iir  plsnis.  W  o  tiif.i  (Oi.tiotifd  hi  our  |mro«, 
mid  ncro  co!u|iflifd  to  ;,d.l  till  t!io  l'r!u;oik  struck  :  uiid  wu  wtre  lib* 
vralcil  atlui"  hI>uuI  two  jcars  and  tight  iiioiitlis  " 

RICllARl/^    IIIO.MI'SOX. 

mark. 
Ponghkceiisie.  April  17,  1813. 

Jiead  ove^'  <;;;«/ «;>«<rr/ ?  .lOsKPlI   11  \  RIlIS, 
m  the  pramce  oj     \  .KJllN  S.  Mil  \ K, 


E.rfvact  frow  ike  Inn;. hook  of  ««  ojjk.i'r  ivLo  ir«s  on 
hoard  hi^  inujPHly's  s/iip  Gncrrlerc  in  the  action  wit/i 
the  (U>nstituti.(jn. 


)  i 


"  'riic  Clucrricie  Mvisa  Cripiatc  of  lOS'i  tons  hin-tjien,  t»kcn  from  (ho 
Frcnidi  in  1  SdG  ;  himI  had  .'>0'2  men  arid  hoys  btlong'.iig  to  licr.  Thoie 
,jt'i'e  ten  ^ivioricttn  scumfu  on  boaril,  wlio  had  holongtd  to  hor  for 
^otno  yiars. —  lint  as  iKo  doiiar.ttum  ot  war  aiiiiinst  (i rout  Hriiain  was 
not  known  \i  lion  slie  sulled,  thoio  had  t)L-tn  iio  oiiporumity  of  dischar!;-. 
inj:  tliein  ;  and  ca;<t;dii  iJucros  e()nsi(ltrii.,y;  ii  a!<  unjust  lotcntpel  a  native 
ol'  ihe  IJitili'd  States  to  fight  ai^ainsl  hl:i  coutilryinen,  granted  tliuin 
pcrinissiuM  to  (juii  tiie  r  ciuarters  and  i^o  below  " 


Ca|>tain  Dacres,  in  his  addrcfs  to  the  court  martial 
by  wliicli  he  was  tried,  flatcs  this  ta6l  in  the  iollowing 
terms  : 


"  What  ennui (lercibly  weakened  vvj  quarter.i,  tvns  pertniitinT-  the 
Aiii">'ic  lis  helono^iUQf  to  the  s  dp,  to  q  it  their  f/uarters  on  the  enemy 
lio'stiiif^  th'  coiors  oi  that  nation,  which,  though  ii  deprived  me  of  tliC 
juun,  I  til  ought  it  was  my  duly." 


|i      -.1 


Boston,  rclruiiry  6,  181.3. 
"  Died  at  Boston,  on  the  3d  instant,  on  boird  tho  frigate  I'nsidcnl, 
Godiiey  liyer  seaman,  n^cd  47.  1  he  deceasv'd  was  a  native  of  Rhode* 
Island,  and  was  one  ot  the  «uin>erous  inslancos  of  itupressi'in  t,  which 
have  bit:n  ihe  cause  of  com])r.int  aj^ainst  he  Ki.i^lish  ll<;  was  taken 
Oil  board  aa  Amttiican  nx  rchanl  shii',  autl  though  he  uever  voluntarily 

17* 


■k 


\ 


■■tmM 


otM, 


199 


TJIK    OI.IVK    nilANOH. 


Mfl.         ' 


«'i,(rn-i|  llicir  service,  he  wiis  ilflaincil  fiom  lii«  ronnlry  ntid  lr«  frlm.fj 
/f>i/r^v/*  i;^'(/r^,  .liiiihi;  wlilili  liiif  Ik.  w  :h  \Mi'»fiit  at  ^'  M-i.ti  iii  inf;:tgM. 
iiHMit>*,  ami  p;nintt|  i|,,r  ri'|i(it'ili()U  i.f  a  n<i»'(l  s«  iijinii,  hihI  h  brii\f  t\n<. 

'*  He  Ml  I.  iivili  loiitiil  iiiiii  s  lo  I'stui  o,  Mi.il  on  |it<i  riKiiri  tit  the 
UiilU'il  Sliiti!  Iif  iiiiiiu'itinlfly  Hlii|/iuil  ni,  boiml  tin-  I'u.-fidii.f,  wltu* 
liP  ((iiitiinM  (I    nnlil  liis  il.  f,  ;ivL  —  l>i,    (oni'liil  i  irt  ivii  j;  ilio    iiiiikid    hi. 

pplllMti-m    f.l     Ills    lW||||;|i;i|i(|(  !•   Ultl!    lIlC    <lll|(r    <»irH'(  I"*     1,1'    ll.C    riiKlllf,        III' 

wiis  iiitt  III  il  (III   ri,iii>.i:jn    |„^i  1,1  ('lu^^l^.slo^^^— liiH  (tliiM-iil  u .  n  hIIi  in!. 

»«l    \>\      1    III  IIUii.llil,     r  V,     I    liili|f,lii|liii  II.     nil    l||c    1*1  IIV   f.(}l«n*,    Milfillv 

Re;<iiMii  fij  t'lc  ^^i[t,  tiiiil  ||||>  tii'i  nioiiii  «  wcrt-  iiii'tiiVi  lo!  Iiy  \lv.  vl,;iji' 
liiiii  ill  !i  iiiKiiiii'i' liijilil)'  soli  mil  iii.il  ill. l>i\ stive. '• 


i 


i«i  > 


From  the  Bo'ton  Patrinf. 

•♦  '.fy  lirfillitr  .hiltii  Ciiinl,  of  Wf/oluitli.  in  ti.e  i!!:tiitt  nl'  Mn;-.-, 
ft'dspif'i  »ifi  11  lui'il  Ills  riiiiji'st} 's  tVinMU-  Mflci  (Iniiini),  (in  |||c  H'uli  ci 
•IliiK?,  ISIO,  iioiu  the  sli))  '.'(.lint  lldjic,  nf  W  is-ibs;-!  I,  ;iiii!  \\  ii»  l.,i:(.il 
on  b(»..ril  llic  M;KO(l>i;iiaii,  in  ilic  brittle  witli  tlit  IJi.ilcd  Siulis,  'oni- 
nio'lnro  Drciuir.  A  iliscdii.sfi'.atc  wile  niiil  thild  stfc  in  niourniiig  ain;  in 
aonoH  lor  tliti  (osii  ul  u  liusbiinil  and  iiarcut,  uii  wlioin  they  uci:.-  i!';. 
jjUKlcnt." 

JUSEIMI  CAND. 

*'  TIse  follovvinnr  narrative  of  an  iniprefTi'd  Americr.n, 
will  ihow  iKit  oiilv  the  fMni^KX'lul  manner  in  'vvl/u'li 
Aniciicun  fdilors  have  been  turcihl)  clioj^,.^ed  into  ii  Icr- 
ci^ii  fcrvicc,  but  the  treatnieiit  thcv  leccivc  in  coiilc- 
qiicnce  of  rcfufing  to  figlU  again II  their  couutiy. 

Chatham,  June  10,  181. 5. 

"  1  John  Niciinls,  n  native  c.f  DuiliHrn,  slate  of  MHssuchii^^cUs,  re- 
l:ito  and  any,  tlint  I  s:iilid  IVcni  I'unland  in  tbe  sliip  I'lanklin,  ccm- 
nariik-d  by  James  Marks,  iis  cliii  t'  mate,  -bound  lo  Livtipcol,  wicie 
vi!  aitivt'd  tliL'  seventh  day  of  I'ebruaiy,  1809.  The  same  day  1  w.is 
taken  by  a  piess  nang,  comim;  t'lom  my  buardini?  hdase  to  ibe  &l.ij>, 
and  carried  by  llieiu  to  tlie  rendtzvotis,  Cooper's  Kow,  ai  d  dct>.i'  cd 
one  ni^ltt.  The  next  muriiinjj  1  kj;avd  the  lieutenant  iny  piott  cWdr, 
and  at  the  same  time  stated  lo  them  I  was  chief  mute  of  the  slt'i*  ;  also 
captain  Marks  and  .Mr.  I'ortef,  supercargo,  came  and  weie  lefiiscd 
admiltance. 

"  I  then  asked  the  lieutenant  for  my  protection  ;  he  answered, 
gjf' *'  I -will  give  it  t'  yon  ~uikh  a  hell  toil  .■"  and  (Xij  iminedi^itely 
tore  it  up  before  my  lace,  and  sent  me  on  board  the  guard  ship  I'riii- 
cess,  where  I  remained  one  \veek,  and  was  then  scntiouml  toriymouili 


^mm^. 


THF.    OI.IVP.    BHANflH, 


!•• 


on  board  (hn   Snlvnilnr  Kinnl  sliip  i  ifinuiu'vl  lh«r<*   omc    irtnntli,  nrter 
u|iiu*i  I  u:>i  .IralU'il  r)'i  Ikui'iI  (he    Mtiiukir7'»    wiuto   !  t'ciriuiuctl  ili  lw 

\y:M%   !>'    'I    .«)HI'll'fll    <l   I       I. 

••  Wliiii  ll>c  whI*  bii>kf  O'lt.l  ('ctoi'iiii  It'll  1051V0  inv«o1*  mi.t  pris'i  ui' 
nl  WW,  li'l  tltu  c()ii3i'«|Ui'Lcv  1)0  wliut  It  w mill.  (;oiisi-"|i|  mly  nn  tlia 
•Jlili  ot  iJiitolcM-,  I  w«!.  t  »■•  iIk-  cm»liii:i  rtiiil  i»i»v«»  iiivflolt'  mi  .11  a  inisouci' 
iir»i.r,  uikI  rit'tistd  10  tl<i  H'-<y  n.ov*'  duly  Tin?  >  lie  Inl  '  nir  I  u  ^  :in 
K  Ifl'-lilU'iii,  Ai.il  n'  I  w  .lllil  iiol  'li*  .  il»>  ho  v*OiiM  fin'f  iiif  ;  Hiiil  (ii'lcrcil 
MO    II)  il'IIIH      Hllll     ki 


'  111-  in  ii(,vs  j  V  li-'UiH,  ;itnr  wliitli  I  «  is  liik'i  to 
receivc't  ouc  tiiten   ivith    t'.e  cat  u.}  iw/   buic 


••  I'hf  c;t|>tiiiii  tlnn  ankt'il  nn'  it'  I  wmilil  j(o  fi  ihiiy  I  IkI.I  liioi  no: 
I  UDiil'l  aiKiiu'l'  iliL'  limi.  il'*  ttiiMi  |)iit  me  in  li' iim  u^;iiii  I'ui'  -J-i  ii'>ti(M, 
mill  ;  oiira  m't<f  droi>r/ltt  iUff  to  the  ^•iiii:f\u<iy, -iuA  .  y  recciycii  its  .'ju- 
yi»)Vf  Willi    III      HiiiU!    (jMi  slioiiH,  4111I    ^ii>\Vii'   iis  i>»  rci'flcil  ;   iiiiil  l/n' 

iiiiii'  Will  ' :'/)<'nt'il  f'lfir   dnus   succesiivc/i/,  uiiil   ;J^"  7  recfivett /'jui' 
(lozrii  uii  inj  iiiikeil  b  ck 

'•  vli  r  tlio  I'liiiiili  il.iy  I  wns  n  piisDiuii' nt  Imgi'  'Vhv  'Jfilli  iliy  of 
Ditiiibi.  r  1  w;.s  Mi'Hl  I, I  inis-oii  wiUiOUt  my  cluilu  s,  \\\v\  l>.  i;^  icliisitl 
nil!  Ii^'  tiio  c.i|it;iiii  .ul'ti'.r  iiliiisii!i;  me  in  tiic  unHt  iiiiiUin  ;  m  uiii-.i',  iiinl  ;ill 
I  I'vci  I'ui  LMVt.l  I'ur  my  siMvilii  I  •  was  T'liiittCM  |i(»ni.(!s.  IJuiiujj  iuiiiic!**- 
iMcnt,  I  Ita\e  uicil  iiiv  lijst  cii<tc*:ouur!i  I'J  cbo;t^ic." 

JOHN  NIC  !OLS. 

Wittma.  JKDUi'il AN  Ul'lOX. 


M 


Ft-'jui  the  Sidi'ui  li'^hter,  Julj,  IS  I, J. 


;;lilist;lis,    rc- 


"Captf.in  I'^ii^on  h«s  fiiriii><hi.'i|  m  with  n  list  (if  1  S  AmeiicMii  sea- 
iicii,  Alio  liuil  t)cuii  iiii|)r(  Silt!  011  jjuiiril  Hiilisli  Khips  ol  \t;ir,:iii(l  it-- 
1  vci'til  up  HS  iiri>i  iiicis  ol  uit  ,  willittii.'  jiliH.i.sof  ilitir  iiativ  |y,  llit- blips 
tlit-y  Wii'f  disi  liitii^c'.l  Irmii,  llic  l.mc  tlivy  linvc  st'r>f(l,  ami  ilu-  nuiiilior 
M°  \iiieri-:nM.s  lelt  on  b()ar<-  llf  liiil'-. n  ni  y,'.\\  s  ul  tlio  time  of  ilieii*  ilis> 
cliaij^o.  I'licse  w»;re  on  Ijonnl  oim  pi'i:-on  ship,  llic  Sun  /Vntoi.m.  Uc- 
'iil.'S  tli.sL',  liiLi'i;  wire  «iii  boaiil  the  (y|i;illi;»iii  ^iris'in  bliip  30)  men  wUa 
hiivi'  l/et'U  ih^Lwreil  up  ni  A(Wj.,'ur  vii  vnin-itintces.  Slaiy  of  ilifsc 
]i(iiii't't'Uovvb  li:i>l  l<ueii  (it'lained  moiu  lliun  Ijyciirs,  uiiil  abuut -iO  of  Uiu 
1-8  0:1  bjuril  lliu  San  Ai.t  )  .10,  bclouij  lo  lliis  sl.itv." 


To  the  Editors  of  the  JVational  Intelligencer, 


"  In  tlia  raontli  of  February  (797,  I  belonged  to  the  sblp  Fidelity, 
ciiiliiiii  Cbarles  VVeems,  lying  in  flu-  liiirbour  of  St.  I'ieiTc's,  Mailiniquu. 
ACo  t  one  o'clock  Sumhiy  moi'iiiii!;,  1  was  awakened  by  a  noise  on  llie 
ilti'k,  and  on  going  up,  found  tbe  ship  in  possession  of  a  press  )>Mng. 
In  iif'jw  minuti-s  ail  liainis  were  foiced  out,  mihI  ordered  into  Ihrir  boat, 
Kiiil  ill  a  heavy  sliowei-  of  rain  convened  on  Iio.iitl  ilie  Ceres  FiifvHe. 
We  were  ordered  on  the  gun  deck  utiUl  Jay  I'ijbt,  ly  vhiui)  lime  about 
^^  .Imericuna  weyc  coliecteil. 


I 

I 

I     .11 

I 
\ 

i 

I 


h 


200 


IIIE    OLIVE    HHAKCll. 


"  Soon  after  sun  rise,  l)i  sli  p's  crew  w^s  ordered  into  the  cibi.i  (o 
l»c  o»>  rlijdtli  (I — (-iicli  \v;is  (|ii(  sliomd  us  to  his  niiine.  &<•.  wUvn  I  vsj 
c;ill('(!  on  lor  nij  jilai'i'  "l  W'h  lli,  and  aiiswertd  J\i'exv  Ciistie.  JhlovnrQ, 
'J'lie  CHiitiiiii  afiVtttd  not  to  litar  llu  l:tst  ;  but  said  *' (it/e,  Aeivaiglie, 
he^s  (I  culLrr,  the  very  n.sin  :  I  wMiiuit  him  i<  sttdor,  se'ii;  him  ('(  vm,  lo 
till'  diicKir" — Upon  wnicii  a  petty  otfici  r,  wlioni  I  rtcogiiized  s  om  of 
the  |>ress  gaii!^,  in.ulc  ;in  ver,  '  sh\  I  kno'v  this  fiHow,  he  is  a  sch'.d. 
■lUiiti'  of  mine.,  mul  his  iu,ii}e  is  Kelly — he  tons  i:orn  in  ]hll'iist~tind, 
'J'ovi.  you  kno-iV  mg  u-c/l '  iioug/t,  ^  su  doJit  khnm  ymkce  any  more.'' 
•*  I  tlioii^ht,  '  saj\.  (he  ciiiitaiii  "he  was  :»  couiitryiuun  nf  my  (,wii; 
(j;3   ''Uf^  ""  Iiishniiiii's  :dl  one — ti.ke  him  ;iway  " 

•'♦  Tlie  next  w  is  a  I'ruasihn,  xvlio  hurl  ^liipped  in  Hamburgh,  as  a  chv. 
ponter  of  the  Fidelity  in  Septcnber,  179t) — He  affccied,  when  rjiustioii. 
ed,  'lol  to  uiidt-i'fitaiid  Knglisli,  hnl  aiiswefeil  ni  Diiteh.  Up'jn  «liir|,(ic 
eapl  .ill  htiiijhefl  !uid  said,  *'  thii  ts  no  uunkee,  send  him  down  ami  lel  tU 
gun  ter  >nanlev  put  him  in  llic  mens -uiith  the  othtr  Dulchmen  ;  theii  \citl 
■iiudt)  stand  hint,  nnd  the  boits-unun  u- ill  tear ii  him  to  talk  Eji^Iis,',." 
Jle  V  ys  aiuordjn^ly  kejit. 

"  I  \v  s  afttt  wards  disch.ii.s;ed  by  an  order  from  \dniiral  liinv,  y, 
on  the  rippliculinn  oi  Mv.  Craij^,  at  thiit  time  .\int;ricai.  aynii  m  vice- 
consul  I  fuilhii  observed  that  CCj^yrt//  one  third  of  the  cmv  luevt 
impressed  Americans  " 

JOHN  DAVIS,  ot  Abel. 

A'avy  Yard,   October  12,  1813. 


.i 


\k 


Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Commodore.  Decatur,  to  the  secre- 

tanj  of  the  ^.Vuvy. 

U.  S.  ship  United  States,  J^'e-iv-Lomhu,  Alarch  18,  1814. 

sill, 

"  1  have  the  honor  to  forward  to  you  enclosed,  a  despatch  rfciived 
by  ine  irom  eapt  Tapel,  the  tomniai.ding  oflicer  of  the  British  si;ii:iiN 
roil  bciore  this  poit,  written  in  reply  to  an  application  ol'  mine,  Un  \h 
release  uf  an  American  seaman,  detained  against  his  vtiil  on  boiud  lin; 
i"riti;ate  .Statira. 

"  Hwam  Thayer,  born  in  the  town  of  Greenwich,  in  the  Conimoii- 
wealth  of  Massachusetts  was  impressed  intu  the  naval  service  of 
Great  Britain,  in  :he  month  of  August,  1803,  and  detained  ever 
iinee 

"  About  six  year  ago,  wlicn  tlie  Statira  was  put  in  conmiission, 
lie  was  tran  ferred  to  her,  and  has  been  constantly  on  board  iier  to 
this  day. 

*'  I  am  informed,  and  in  fact  it  was  stated  by  captiiin  SfackpoK  In 
lieutenant  Hamilton,  who  was  charged  wit!)  the  flag,  that  the  l;!t(  i;iii 
Lyman,  our  consul  at  London,  matle  application  to  the  lords  ioiiumis 
sioners  lor  the  discharge  ot  Thayer,  but  they  were  not  saiiilicd  with 
the  (  videiice  of  liis  nativitv. 

'•  JoiiH  Thayer,  the  fa'.her  of  Hiram,  assures  nie  that  tin  certifni'tc 
of  tht  St  lectiDen,  the  lown  clerk  and  the  nsinister  oi  Gri  wiili, 
were  forwarded  some  lirae  &go   to  Mr.  Mitchell,  tho  resident  ngtiit 


tik^ilf,^.  '>:»^t: 


•■';?» 


THE    OLIVE    BUAN'OIT. 


201 


info  the  C!\bi;i  lo 
?<<•.  wlien  I  vaj 
tistie.  Jh'ld-wnre, 
(tjje,  A'cru^tLitie, 
jcnc  him  ('i  « ii  In 
ij;ii;zeil  s  0111  lit' 
■iV,  lie  is  a  ir/i^oi- 
)i  llclj'nat—dnd, 
.nkce  nil  J/  vwre. '' 
uii    of  m)-    (.Wu; 

iLurgli,  as  a  chv. 
I,  wliL'ii  (jiusliijii. 
Up'iii  w  liicli  II  c 
(lu-ivii  and  let  the 
chmen  ;  theu  Will 
J   Kiih-  Eii^Us:,.'' 

\(h)iii'al  Ilinv.  V, 
111.  Hijiiiil  »»i'  Vice- 
of  tliC  creiv  were 

^VIS,  of  Abel. 


fm'  American  prisoners  of   \\m   :it  ri;*lifii.\  ;    but  does  not    know  tlie 


|t't>:lll   ^^ 


li\  he  w   s  no;  ic  t:  asdl  ih^n. 


"  lliii  soil  hiis  Mi.lti'ii  lo  \\\%  fatiiei",  ami  informpil  him  tliat  on  re|iro- 
ieiitinic  his  casi-  to  ;«|)l.  Stackpole,  he  tol'l  him  "  *  ti'ift,'  fr/!  it  -anta 
n'l  ,lmer:cnn  man  of  war.  and  lie  id  not  drj  /us  duty  ,j  he  should  be 
ticl  to  the  }iiuiit   a'.d  ahot  at  Uhe  i  dog" 

••(Jii  M  Mul.n  th.:  \  (ih  iiisi.  Jolm   I  liiiyer  rcqncsteil  me  to  allow  hi 


lo  "-'I  oil"  to  (!ie  t'ntnjv.  and  ask  tor  the  '  eleas.;  ol   his  soi 


I  his 


1  mMiiU;>l  :\t  oi.ce,  :ui(!  aildrtssed  a  noie  o  inpt.  ('.ipel,  slating  that  I 
Icit  |iiTSU;iled  tltat  thi;  a;)[)'ic^tioii  of  the  faiiier  lui'ti'.*hed  as  lie  nas 
with  ci)iiclu,>ive  eviiience  of  th  •  ir.ttivity  and  identity  of  the  son,  would 
i:\iIiico  an  imnudiale  onitr  for  his  tiisiharn;e. 

'■  (lie  ivj'iv  is  i'i«lo  ,cd.  I  he  son  descried  his  father  at  a  dist.-ince  in 
till- lnKit,  and  Idhl  the  Ii(iitt;iianl  oi  tlie  >tutira,  tliat  it  w.is  Iiii  f-illur; 
,,!;  i  1  iiulersta  .il  the  feelings  inanifesltd  hy  tlie  old  man,  on  reeciviwij 
\'<\<:  h  ml  of  his  son,  proved  heyond  all  i/!hir  evidence,  ihc  pi'opeity  he 
h  (|  I.I  !iiiii.  There  was  not  a  doiihi  left  on  tii<;  iniml  of  a  S!iij;le  HiMlisli 
iiilic'i'  of  iliram  .  hayer's  heing  an  American  citizen — and  yet  he  is 
iltl'.iiiied,  not  as  a  prisoner  ot  Avar,  but  conii)eIleiI,  under  llic  most  cruel 
t!ir.  Ills,  to  serve  the  niemies  of  tiis  ctjuntry 

"'l'li:>yer  has  so  lecomnieiided  hiinstif  hy  h  s  obriety,  inchutry  and 
seanianship  as  to  l)e  appointeil  a  hoatswain's  mite,  am!  is  now  ser^iiig 
ill  til  it  capaelt)  in  the  htutira — and  he  says  there  is  due  to  him  from 
tlie  Mritisii  government  about  two  luindreii  and  fifty  pounds  sterling. 
He  his  also  assured  Ins  fatlicr  that  lie  has  always  refuse  to  receive 
jtny  b#)niily  or  a<lvaiice,  least  he  might  afTonl  some  pretext  for  denying 


his  ilisi  barge   whenevtr  a  proiitr  applici'tioir^liould  lie  nude  for  it. 
wilU  the  hi^hehl  consideration,  your  most  obtdieni  humble 


1 


'Cl'VUIll.. 


am,  siiv 


m 


STKIMIKN  UliCAlUK. 


Captain  CapeVa  htier,  euclused. 


lespatch  recriveti 
le  llrilisb  si;u:ii!- 
I  of  mine,  foi  tlie 
will  on  board  the 

in  tlie  Conniion- 
naval  servici  ol' 
11(1    detained  ever 

in    conimissioii, 
on    board    her  to 


mt  tin  certirniitc 
;!•  O'  (ii'i  vidi, 
0   resident  ^S*-''' 


On  board  his  li,  SI-  ship  La  Ilogu-e,  off  J\'e-iO  London,  JMarch  14,  1814. 
sill, 
"I  Inive  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  \\\.\X\ 
tlie  cert!  "ic;ites  of  excliaii^e  and  discharge  from  parole,  lorwanl- 
d  t'l  you  at  the  rKpicsl  of  col.  IJarclay,  the  commissary  general 
ot"  prisoners  of  war  ;  and  1  beg  to  return  you  my  thanks  for  your 
pnlitf  miiiilion, 

'  1  re;<ri.t  thot  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  comply  with  your  request  irv 
nnleri  .1^  the  s  m  of  Mr.  John  riniyer  to  Ire  discliargL-d  from  his  majes- 
ty's bliip  Statin).  liut  I  will  foru^ud  vonr  apjilication  to  the  coin- 
muiler  in  chief,  by  the  earliest  opportuiiity,  and  I  have  no  douLt  lie 
Mil!  Oilier  iiis  iiniiudiato  discharge." 
1  an",  sir,  8cc. 

THOMAS  CAPEIi,  Captain,  &c. 


tr.   JS)*»i^-:'*l»ti  •-',•«!».»-»-.*.•« 


:i()2 


THE    OLIVE    BRANt'II. 


Extract  of   a   biter  from    Comwvdore   Decahir  io  //, 
secrAari)  of  the  J\'uvi/,  dated  AeLi>  London,  Jhij  i7tl: 

1811. 


*•  Tlie  euclnseil,  No  C,  is  tlie  copy  of  a  note  I  ttldressed  tn  csi). 
tain  Cajjcl  ot  Ins  B  M  S.  La  Moguu,  ou  llic  sujett  ol  liinianl 
O'Brien,  a  iialive  cilizen  ol"  the  United  Sialics.  In  the  boat  that  Uiie 
the  ilag  ui'  truce  to  tlie  La  Hoguc,  the  falhci'  of  the  man  in  question 
ivcnt. 

"Ciiiit  ('(»pcl  would  not  permit  him  t  ■  sn-  his  son — he  diiccu'l  i;;y 
officer  10  iiil'.rni  me  that  hi;  \void:l  ans^ci'  my  disjjatth  the  iiiM  d.iv, 
since  wiicn  1  ii;;ve  not  heaid  fioni  him." 


COPY. 


sill, 

"At  '.ho  solicitation  of  Mr  llarnnrd  O'Hricn,  -wliose  son  ig  nowou 
Ijoanl  his  Britai;  ic  njajtstj'.s  thij;  L>  r5i)!,nt  uniUr  \our  conim:iiiil,  I , 
have  granted  a  rt:ts:  oftiuee.  coridu(;tud  U\  liiut  i laii.iiioii,  w.lii  jk!'. 
mi-sion  lor  ^Ir.  OlJcie  ■  to  Httond  it.  l!is  ohjort  is  to  flletl  tli.  lib- j 
ei;  li-Mi  oi  his  son,  naiivv?  citizen  of  t:ic  Umiei'  SiiitiS  He  lics'is 
witli  hint  a  co]>y  o;  th.  rt-c<-ii'ii  o!  tlie  town  ol  (irnton  in  tlie  st;Uc  ot' 
Conntclicut,  siyin d  In  tlif  u.wii  et.  rk  am^  sjltcinr,  n,  as  also  a  teititi- 
cat«;  iVnr,»  a  iuiiihcr  ui  '*..•';)' cl;!bf  r\uii  ih  (wdton,  pioviii<>  his  nat  vi. 
tv.  \\  nil  tiii'.s'  (ioeumt:iis  1  cuai.ot  <iou..t  tliat  lie  will  clFect  l!ic  pur- 
pose of  his  visit  " 

CS.gned   )  STEl'HEN  DECATUR, 


V 


sin, 
"We  the  undersigned,   f.ike  tlie  liberty  to  solicit  your  r.3sistnnce  in 
behalf  of  Mr    H-irnaril  O'liren,  in  ohiaming  liis  son's  leltasi  fron.  the 
UiiUsh  £iii[»  La  iiojjiu'  oil"  Nf      Lom'on, 

'•  S\  e  -re  vu-.ll  ai.nu.ii.iled  uilii  the  younjjj  man,  a!id  k  o\v  iiini  to 
be  HI!  .\niei  ican-hni  II  (.••i.zen.  ili.s  iellei  to  lii'^laihti,  daicd  on  ho  rJ 
tlie  liO  liogiie,  ilie  '.■'•kh  of  M  tiJi,  is  --nfn.n-i*!  piool  ol  his  bing 
on  board  (whii-li  \  it<r  v,  "I!  be  shewi  yon  )  Ii  jon  can  ifivc  any  us- 
sista.ice  in  oMumin;:;  In.s  i-ef  a-.e,  lith'i-  by  letting'  Mr  Oiirieii  '^'o 
to  the  ship  by  a  fl.i";  of  trncc,  oi  in  ai.v  other  w;.v,  it  will  b.  tfii.- 
sidtiid  a  particular  fa\o.r.  conterreii  on,  su-,  y-^ur  iuos>  oliedieU 
seivanis" 

Gerard  G  Ih  y 
Nnili.    Kiiuliiili, 

Jos.    rnttlc,  

P.  F.  file  »  »ni;:j  luan's  name  is  Tlarniiid  O  iir  en.  sni,  nf  Rainani 
O'lJi'cn  ai.d  hiij  svif'i  Klizb.-ih  0''trien.  Il>  wiis  born  in  the  tow  "I 
CIrot."  ,  Juiujr)  'i'Jtit,  i7S5  Extract  Jf  om  the  veconla  oj  thu  tuwi 
fij'  Liroton. 

A  true  cofy,  cevt-fied per  Amos  A.  Js'des,  To-wn  Clerk. 

"  I  cert'.t'y  tli;.t  .\mos  A.  Nilesis  town  clerk  for  Grntm,,  a<\<'  ihst 
1  bt-'lieve  the   above    cerljlicate  to  be   a  true   and  correct   retold  oi 


Geo     \     SnlU  man, 

Ko    ;i.  A  vei  V, 
K^astns    I'    .'•luith. 


m':^^ 


THE    OLIVE  BRANCH. 


N  DECATUR. 


's,  Toivn  Clerk. 


Bjrn.irl  O'Brien's  birth.     I  do  ;ilso  certify  that  I  have  kno.vn  the  sM 
Barn^nl  0  Ki'icii  t'l  nni  hii  youth 
VateJ,  Grotoiiy  .Ipril  7th,  1814. 

NOVE-i  B\ll  -KR, 

Sfflcct  manful'  Groton. 

I  have  now  as  nearly  in  chronoloirical  order  as  pofTi- 
lile,  brought  this  odious,  t!iis  deteftabic  fubjjti  to  tlie  Idft 
set  ot  the  drama. 

Some  of  the  a^-ors  who  ftood  liigh  In  tlie  op'^ning 
of  the  piece,  fink  far  below  par  in  this  a?l.  Tiicy 
ihnd  in  confpicuous  flations,  and  polTefs  boundlefs  tn- 

ifijeiicc  on  our  deflinies  and  thofe  of  our  pofterity. — 
I  regii'd  it  therefore  as  an  imperious  duty  to  canvafs 
ilieir  candu61:  fiiily  and  completely,  and  to  cite  them  to 

[the  bar  of  the  public,  which  1  thus  do  in  the  moil  folemn 

liiidimer. 
Tu'o  of  the  gentlemen  to  whom  I  refer  ;;re  T.  Picker- 

linff  and  Rufus   King,  Efqrs.   whofe   opiniotis  and  con- 

W  on  tliis  important  topic  have  been  in  as  dire/^  hof- 

lltv  tj  each  other,  at  different  periods,  as  day  and  night 

l-trath  and  talfehood. 
The   reader  has    feen  how    laudably,   how    zealonfly, 

\\m  patrioticallv  both  thefe  gentlemen,  on  the  fubjo^l 
ol  impreffment,  formerly  contended  for  and  defended 
the  riirlits  o\  their  conntrv — oppofe.i  and  flruggled 
aff:iMi(l  the   exorbitant  and  inadmiffible  claims   ol  t-ng- 


Tiiey  are  now  united  with  the  Otifes,  the  Blakes,  the 
Huiifoiis  and  the  VVc!)ileiS,  who  appear  determined  to 
"Pur  down"  yes,  reader,  "put  down*'  is  tlie  word 
—it  is  (trong,  fignlHcant,  and  unequivocal — I  fjv,  "'' fo 
Iji'it  down  the  admin^jhalion'  for  Rrenuoudv  Infiflnig  on 
thofe  rights — !or  attempting  to  fhield  the  feaman  frojn 
the  iron  giafp  of  his  enflaver. 

Tills  is  a  clear  cafe  I  ftate  it  in  brief.  Either 
Mcifis.  Pickering  and  King  were  e?<travagant  in  their 
(lenunds  formerly,  and  endangered  the  peace  of  their 
country  by  preferring  fur.h  exorbitant  and  uiijuft  claims 
|o:u  nation,  "  Av'  'yu'-D'irk  of  our  holy  religion,"  "//r;/o^.. 
%  for  her  faivution"—and  ''fighting  the  battles  of 


.4 


i  I 


f^f 


20* 


TJIK    CLlVi;  BKANCil. 


Clvijlr.ndom  againjl  A.niclni/i  and  his  hoji'' — or  thev 
arc  taitliicfs  to  tliat  cjuiitry  at  picfcnt,  aii<l  aie  \\\\\\<^ 
ihcir  be  ft  endeavors,  for  f  aft  ions  puipofcs,  to  delct 
licr  in  the  cfTl^.t  to  procure  fini})le  j;il]icc.  Tiicrc  is 
JIG  otlier  dlternjtivc.  hct  them  choole  for  theinfcixcs. 
Let  tiie  public  ratity  or  rcjetl  the  choice.  I  merely  ll.itc 
the  cafe. 

Never  Wtis  tlicre  a  more  fti  iking  or  revolting  in- 
fiance  ol  tlie  lickterious  I'piiit  of  paity — and  oi  its 
jiowcr  to  (leaden  all  the  finer  and  more  honorable 
feelings  ot  human  nature,  than  this  queftion  e.xlnl)its. 
It  is  dilgraccfu!  and  humiliating  to  the  human  fpc- 
ci^s.  High-u  lided  American  merchants  poflclled 
ot  imnienle  io;  tunes — enjoving  in  profufion  all  the 
luxuries  and  delicacies  this  world  afforcis — and  ow- 
iiig  all  tiieie  manifold  blefTings  to  the  labours,  ti;e 
ikill,  and  tlie  induftry  of  our  failors — but  ungrateful- 
Iv  regaidlrfs  of  the  agents  by  whom  tlicv  procure 
tliefe  blelljngs,  and  blinded  by  party  fpirit,  regard 
Vvit:;  calm  and  ffonc-heartcd  apathy  the  mileries  ot 
impreirment — and  are  not  merely  indiffeient  to  the 
fiifferings  ot  the  unfortimate  tars  '''"purloined  by  mm 
Jleakrs^''  from  all  their  humble  bleflings — and  di.ig. 
ging  out  a  mi'erab  e  exiftence  in  flavery  of  the  mod 
galling  kind,  witi'  a  rope's  end  ready  to  punifh  tlicin 
for  muvmuring  out  tlicir  forrows.  No.  They  are  riot, 
I  re[)cat  it,  merelv  indifferent.  The\'  throw  themfclvi'S 
into  tiie  fcale  ot  their  enemies.  Thev  deride  the  idea 
ot  (Irugghng  for  the  fecurity  ot  a  tew  failors  whom, 
in  the  face  of  heaven  and  caith,  tliey  falfely  Ccdl  va- 
gabond'i  from  England,  Ireland,  and  Scotland,  wlioni 
our  government  is  wickedly  protefting  at  the  hazjid 
of  the  ruin  of  tiic  country  !  Almighty  tat'-ei  !  To  what 
an  ebb  is  man  capable  of  defcending  !  L  .1  us  fuppt  !c 
for  a  moment  that  the  illullrious  Hull,  Jones,  Pciiv, 
Porter,  Decatur,  M'Donough,  or  any  other  ot  \\A 
conftellation  of  heroes,  who  have  bound  tlu  r  coiiti\'s 


brows  with  a  wreatli  ot    imperifhable    gioiy, 


loiv.   h^ul 


'ii 


prefled  by    a  Cockburn,    their    proud    ipints  fubjctitd 


M^',::.J>fflH— 'ai'i'' 


THE  OLIVL  nnANcu. 


20!i 


to  liis  tender  mercies,  and  ciufhed  by  tlie  galling 
tliain  and  the  rope's  end  !  Wiuit  a  Icene  tor  a  painter — 
what  a  ('r.hjctl  ior  contempLtion — what  a  never  dying 
(iif^rracc  to  thofe  wlio(e  councils  would  peifuade  the  na- 
tion to  fubmit  to  {"uch  degradation  ! 

There  is  one  ilrong  and  Hriking  point  of  view  in 
whicli  tlic  fulj?^!;  of  imprefTment  rnay  be  confidcrcd, 
and  which  really  renders  the  tame  acquiefceiice  in  it, 
which  is  now  contended  for,  pregnant  with  awful  re- 
liiit*.  ^  En^irland  has  recruited  her  navy  from  our 
vtlfds  With  Danes.  Swedes,  and  Ifalians,  asxvellas  native 
Americans.  WE  HAVE  SUBMITTED  TO  IT  : 
{^  and  Mr.  Pickenng,  Mr.  K/no-^  governor  Strong, 
H.  Gray  Otis,  &c.  now  plead  in  favour  of  fub?niJJion. 
If  this  be  jufl,  what  right,  I  demand,  have  we  to  prevent 
all  belligerents  whatever,  and  at  all  times,  from  copying 
tp.e  example  ?  fidT  Suppofe  France,  Spain,  and  Itjly  at 
war.  Are  not  the  cruifers  of  each  nation  juftified  in 
Hopping  our  veflels  in  fearch  of  the  fubjefts  of  the  pow- 
ers to  which  they  refpe6lively  belong,  and  a.^  fully  enti- 
tled (jrf"  to  enslave  the  Danes,  Portuguese,  Swedes,  and 
Euiyluhmcn  on  board,  C^f  as  the  Bntijli  cruizers  are  to 
rnflave  Frenchmen,  Spaniards,  Danes,  and  Portuguese  ? 
This  is  a  horrible  view  of  the  fubjetf,  and  curdles  the 
blood  in  my  veins.  There  is  no  calculating  the  extent 
or  the  enormity  of  the  evil. 

I  muft  relume  this  topic.  It  is  too  important  to  be 
dirmiffed  in  a  fmgle  paragraph.  It  deferves  volumes. 
Would  to  heaven  an  abler  pen  were  engaged  in  it. 

That  Britifh  cruizers  have  been  in  the  conflant  habit  of 
imprefTinET,  wnthout  anv  fcruple,  and  that  they  regard  it  as 
their  right  to  imprrfs,  Danes,  Portugriefe,  Frenchmen,  Ita- 
lians, and  all  other  foreiirners  found  on  boaf  d  our  veflels,  is 
true,  if  we  believe  T.  Pickering,  Rufus  King,  and  Judge 
MarOiall,  whofe  evidence  on  the  fubjeB  is  detailed  above. 

It  Great  Britain  has  a  right  to  impiefs  Frenchmen  or 
Spaniards,  or  Dutchmen  on  board  our  vessels,  France, 
Spain  >^nd  Holland  have  an  equal  right  to  imprels  Eng- 
liihmen,     Nothing  can  be  more  clear. 
18 


m 


THE  OUVE    nUANCir, 


/    i' 


The  Biltifh  captains  alFcit  that  they  find  it  dUliiult 
or  imponil)le  to  (lifciiniinatc  between  their  own  hib- 
jerts  and  Americans.  It  niiiil  he  lar  more  diHicuh  for 
Fiench  captains.  And  they  will  he  {iill  more  excnfable 
lor  any  nvjlakes — and  lor  cnllaving  Americans.  What  a 
liightlul  t.ite  has  fafclion  prepared  tor  our  ill-ftarred  fea- 
liinng  citizens ! 

1  liave  ihilcd  that  MrfTrs.  Pickering,  King,  Strong, 
&c.  contcrui  tor  rubiniilion  to  impreflinerit.  This  ic- 
(juire,^  explanation.  Tl;ey  do  not,  it  is  trn.%  in  zrnrJ'i 
contend  tor  imprelfment.  But  this  is  the  inevitable  rcfiilt 
ot  their  prefcnt  courl'e  ot  proceedings  ;  for  as  1  have  al- 
ready tldted,  and  beg  to  repent,  they  h we  lai}o\n-ed  and 
are  now  labouring  to  deflrov  the  prefent  admijiiftrat;or', 
principally  for  the  ftand  made  to  put  an  end  to  imprelF- 
ment  ;  and  the  confequence  ot  the  vioh  nt  oppolition 
made  to  tlie  government  on  this  fubje6l  has  been  to 
oblige  it  to  port  pone  the  d'fcunion. 

A  committee  ot  the  legiflatuie  of  MafTachufctts  was 
appointed  at  a  late  feffion  to  enquire  into  the  alTair  of  im- 
preffment.  Tiie  objetl  of  the  appointment  was  to  damn 
the  charafter  of  the  adminiftration,  bv  diminilhins  the 
enormity  of  this  high-handed  offence,  agiinft  which  tiie 
Levitical  law  pronounced  ientence  of  death  : — 

"  He  that  jlealeth  a  mnn — and  felleth  hini — or  if  he  k 
found  771  his  hand,  he  JJiall  he  put  to  denth'^ 

It  is  painful  to  (late — but  it  is  my  duty  to  ft  ate  to  the 
world — that  this  committee  by  no  means  did  j.u'bcc 
to  the  fuhj  ;61:.  They  afted  with  moft:  palpable  partiality. 
They  reported — wonderful  to  tell — impoirible  to  believe 
— that  at  tlie  commencement  of  the  war,  the  number 
of  Americans  on  board  the  Britifh  veflels,  belongin^r 
to  the  great  commercial  ftate  of  MafTachufctts,  wds 
'•  only  eleven^* — Yes — reader  : — it  is  really  eleven— I 
have  read  it  fix  times  over,  to  convince  myfelf  thati 
was  not  millaken.      But   it   is  abfolutely   true,    that  a 


•  Fiom  the  Road  to  Ruin,  No. 
written  by  John  Luwell- 


pv,;^li»hed  in  the  Centinel,  aa! 


•J  HE    OLIVli    IJUANCH. 


20: 


committee  of  tlic  IciTifiiture  o\  Maflachufotts  did  ro- 
rcj)c)it  to  t'liat  l)t)dv,  ti».:t  at  tlie  coiniufnccriiv'iU  ol  \\.c 
\s'ar,  Cir  THLUK'Wt'dlE  BUI"  "  hLLVKN"  MAS- 
SACHUSETl'S  SLAVKS  h.^hting  the  battles  of  "  t/ic 
Bulwark  oj  our  holy  religion'  on  board  tlie  vclleisot  ib.at 
Bulwark. 

N'jw,  reader,  let  lue  hc^  you  to  coiiPjlt  the  prcced'mg 
(locuments  carctuih" — and  ohieive 

1.  That  thcie  were  (j^'  tf^n  A>n<'rican.s  on  hoard  the. 
Guernere  tii  the  time  ot  her  eiu^a'^cment  witii  the  Coii- 
{iitution. 

2.  That  (5^5'  there  were  th\rtee.',i  Anif.ricans  on  board 
tut  Java,  when  Ihe  was  captmcd  by  Bauibi  idge. 

3.  Tlidt  Qil'  one  eighth  pa) t  of  the  ci civs  of  the  Mo- 
selle and  Sappho,  ^  by  the  proper  nuiilcr  rolls  otthoCe 
vefleis,  weie  Americans.  '1  iicii  erews  weie  above  200; 
fdy  onlv  that  number,  and  it  will  be  25. 

^.  That  tliefe  plain  iafts  Itand  on  Inch  ground  as  nei- 
ther Tnnothy  Piekcrinsr,  Rntiis  King,  governor  Strong, 
Harrifon  Grav  Otis,  Daniel  Web  Her,  or  A.  C.  HanCoii 
will  dare  to  dilpute.  I  hereby  publicly  challenge  them 
to  a  denial. 

,}.  That  I  have  thu-^^  clearly  and  indifputably  e'Vablifhed, 
that  on  board  ot  four  veirds  there  were  10,  and  13,  and 
25  American  Haves,  being  ^  an  avekage  of 
TWELVE    TO    EACH. 

6.  That  there  are  about  550  Britifh  velTels  conflantly 
in  commiflion. 

7.  That  an  average  of  twelve  allows  6600  on  board 
the  Britifh  fleet. 

8.  That  this  ftatement  correfponds  pretty  exaftly  with 
the  recorrts  of  the  ieciet  iry  of  ffate's  oflice. 

And  then,  reader,  fay  what  judgmf^nt  mufl  be  pafTed 
on  the  connniltee  when  they  gravely  ftate  that  there  were 
on  board  the  Britifh  vefFels  ot  war  only  eleven  natives 
of  Moffachufetti  ! !  !  It  makes  me  fick  to  refleft  on 
lucl)  obliquity  of  mind,  and  luch  monllrous  perverfioa' 
©t  fa6l. 


^^   i 


\Vi 


the  Centinel,  asl 


,!       i 


l^ J,      I) 


208 


THE    OMVK    nUAXCH. 


It  is,  however,  true,  tliat  this  committee,  tliouirh  tlir 
world  is  grolsly  deceived  by  the  term  ot  exjncHi(;ns  in 
the  report,  have  a  falvo  to  prevent  fixing  the  charge  ot 
falfehood  on  them.  Tiiey  fay  thcfe  are  the  rediits  •'  as 
Jar  as  thdr  enquiries  went''  But  tliis  fuving  claufe  ef- 
capes  the  mafs  ot  readers,  who  laileii  on  the  ll.ong  alle- 
gation, that  the  adminiftjation  went  to  war  tt)r  impreIRd 
leanicn,  and  that  there  were  only  eleven  natives  ot  Maf- 
i'achufetts  imprelled.  All  the  rell  is  pafled  without  no- 
tice. 

*'  A'i  far  as  thetr  enquiries  zcent''  is  a  very  equivocal 
expjeffion.  They  may  have  (lopped  at  the  threihold — 
or  tliey  may  have  gone  halt  way — or  they  may  have 
gone  through  the  bufinefs  com  detely.  That  taeir  eri- 
c]uiriesdi(l  not  go  verv  tar,  is  however  pretty  certain. 

The  words  "  American  /laves,'*  will  flartle  fome  de- 
licate ears.  The  expreflion  is  neverthelefs  correct. — 
When  an  Algerine  corfair  Hops  one  of  our  vcflels,  and 
feizes  it  and  the  crew,  i^  the  latter  are  ju/lly  re^mi dd 
as  /laves.  (Jirj*  Thar  ca/e  is  far  better  than  that  of  the 
Amen  cans  imprc./J'id  by  Bntijh  cr  infers.  The  Algerine 
Haves  work  for  tdfkmalters.  So  do  the  Britifh  (laves. 
The  Algerme  (laves  are  flogged  if  they  refufe  "  to  do 
their  duty."  So  are  the  Britifli.  The  Algerine  (laves 
have  but  poor  fare.  So  have  the  Biitilh.  Thus  tar 
they  are- on  a  parallel.  But  here  the  parallel  ceafes, — 
({•^  The  /llgerine  flave  is  never  forced  to  jeopardize  his 
U/e  in  battle—^  he  is  never  forced  to  point  a  gun  that 
may  flaughter  his  countrymen.  (^  But  this  the  Britilh 
drive  mud  do,  or  (Jir  "  BE  tied  to  the  mast  and 
SHOT  AT  LIKE  A  DOG,"*  Is  he  not  then  the 
moll  rniferable  of  Haves  ? 


*  Sec  Commodore  Decatur's  letter  to  the  secretary  of  tlie  navy, 
pnge  201. 


r '  M 


l\ 


iHlm**  ■""*•-  "*    •*n*-««>-"'" 


I  HE    OLIVE  BRANCH. 


20\i 


f  of  the  iiavy, 


CJIAP.  XXIV. 

,in  apolojs^y  for  an  ps^vpscious  error  committed  by  the 
tvriter  un  the.  fnibject  of  preparathm  for  ivitr.  The 
U'hoU  i,ession  one  coufinned  aeries  nf  propitrnt'i  >ns. 
J\'i}teteen  acts  bearing  strung  notes  of  martial  arrange' 
ment. 

I  deem  it  iridifj^enfibly  neccfTary  to  correct  a  mod  cj^re- 
gioiis  error  into  wliicli  I  was  betrayed  by  the  liallc  in  wbich 
myfirfl  edition  was  compiled  and  written.  I  therein  enii- 
merdtcd  among  the  errors  of  Mr.  Madifon's  adminiftration 
the  negle61  to  make  due  preparations  tor  tijaAvar,  pievious 
U)  the  commencement  of  holiilities.  flm  alhamed  to 
liavc  caft  fuch  a  fuperficia!  gl  ince  at  the  fnbje^t  ;  to  have 
allowed  myfeif  to  be  fo  giofsly  deceived;  and  to  have 
contributed  to  lead^ijiy  reader  aOrav.  Tlierc  were  ample 
preparations  made,  as  may  be  fcen  b\  the  following  lifls 
of  afts  padcd  during  that  fellion  of  congrefs,  towards  the 
ohife  of  which  war  was  d'clared. 

(Let  mc  obfcrve,  en  paffant,  that  the  fins  of  both  par- 
lies arc  flagrant  and  ruinous  enough  to  the  nation  without 
icquiring  any  addition  or  ocaggcration) — 

Previour,  to  the  declaration  of  war. 

1.  An  act  for  completing  the  exiiling  military  eftab- 
Iiihmcnt.     PafTed  December  24,  1811. 

2.  Ail  riff  to  raife  an  additional  njilitary  force.  This 
acl  provided  tor  raifing  ten  regiments  of  infantry,  two 
regiments  ot  artillery,  and  one  regiment  of  light  dra- 
goons, to  be  enlifted  for  five  year^,  unlefs  fooner  dif- 
chargcd.  I'hc  infantry  amounted  to  about  20,000  men 
—the  artillery  to  4000 — and  the  cavalry  to  1000.  PafTed 
Jan.  11,  1812. 

3.  An  acl.  authorizing  the  purcbafe  of  ordnance  and 
ordiiancc  ftores,  camp  equipage,  and  other  quarter  mafter's 
0  )ics  and  fmall  arms.      P,:lTcd  Jin.  14,  1812. 

|.  An   aft   >mthorizitig  the   preridenl  of  the   United 
18* 


I 
n 


:« 


210 


THE  or.ivK  unAN'cif. 


i     ..'( 


States  to  accept  anrl  authorize  certain  volunteer  nnlitii\ 
corps,  uot  toexcctvl  ,50,000  int'ii.      For  this  puipolt;  t  iCio 
w.»<!  in  appropriation  ol    1,000,000  dollars.      Palfcd  Kob, 
6,  1812. 

,5.  A'l  afl  appropriatiutr  108,772  dollars  for  the  c\. 
penfes  mcid-nt  to  (i^  totnpjuies  ot  nujuritcd  rangers. 
P..irvl  Feb.  20,  1812. 

6.  An  j61  niakin'.r  appropriations  tor  the  fnpport  of 
the  'riilitary  eUahliihiiient  ot  the  United  States  tor 
1812,  viz. 

For  pny  of  tho  Jirmy         - 

Foruj:o  _  .  -  • 


Sii'»si«leii(»c  •  - 

Cl.»lhi;)a^         .  -  .  . 

l^^^^»ties  and  prcmimas     - 
Mcdit'ivl  departuii'iit 
OnliiiMPe  and  urdiiaiice  stores 
Forli!leiitions  -         - 

Fur  the  qiuirtor  mai^tor's  depariment 
For  purchase  of  horses 
ConlinojoMeies  .  .  . 

In d'aM  di!part;nent 
IMil-tia  of  Louisiana,  ^c. 
Passed  Feb.  21,  1«U* 


8fiD,0!iS 

0S1,!)()0 

2J3,S()fc 

7(),0i)() 

0'),0()() 

1,13;,I)()0 

2Ur.J)M) 

T.^j.OOO 

l.>0,i)()() 

50.000 

11;,  loo 
.;?,ooo 

4,6  I.),y4j 


h  I 


m   kii^' 


7.  An  a6l   making  appropriations  for  the  fupport  of 
an  additional  military  torcc  :  — 

For  pay         ."....-  l,4')'i,8)7 

Fora<^e  l.i+.lij 

fenhsistence 1,074,05)7 

Clotlnni^ 863,21* 

Boijnti:'s  and  premiums  _         .         -  442.2fiO 

Hor»ios  for  drasjonns  ...         -         282.000 

Quarti>r  master's  department        -        .         -      4os.7*i0 
Medis^il  department  -         -  -  125,000 

Continj^eneiei  -  -  «         -  35j,011 

Passed  Feb.  21,  181.2.  

fi.il3.064 


.-»..,.-.»—  m  ■i'lli*  i#< 


THE    OLIVE    BRANOU. 


11 


pf 


CT  niiiitiiy 

P.Ulccl  Feb. 

I'or  the  c\. 
c(l   rangers. 

fnpport  ol 
States    tor 

l()k»>2|. 
681,000 
2  J  3, sot 

7(),0;)0 
/50,0()0 

l,l;i'>,()!)0 
ijy  0.019 
r.^i.ooo 
i.io.ooo 

50.000 
IT!, 100 
.12,000 

4,6  ;.'»,'J4^J 
e  fupport  of 

1, 074,007 
8ft3,2it 
4*2.2fiO 
283.000 
40S.7*iO 
121,000 
351,0  It 

I5.ll2.36t 


8.  An  aft  makiinr   appropriations  for   ilic  fuppu».    of 
the  navv  ot  tlie  Umttd  States,  tor  1812. 
Puv  nuti  »iil)«i«ttcnce  • 


Pri>\isioim  .  .  - 

Mcdu'lio'!*         -  .  - 

KepairM  of  Vessels         .         -         - 

Frt'i}»;lit,  atort'  rent,  &.c. 

Navv  yards,  &.f.  ... 

Onliiuiico  aiii]  ordiuiiicc  stores 

l!»i.ltpetre.  siilpluir  Hnv. 

¥uy  and  ^iiitsiytctK'e  of  murinu  cr.rpii, 

(lotliiiic;  for  marine  corp* 

I^liliturv  stores  far  do. 

IVIedieiiies,  i^c  -         - 

Quarter  master's  stores 

I'ussed  Feb.  24,  1812. 


1,12.J,3H 

5"i'.),T.17 

40.000 
315,000 
113,0(10 

60,000 
2SO.O00 
lSi',000 
1.14..31G 

4  J,  281 
1,*77 
11.500 

20,000 

2.00  ,0U 


9.  An  aft  makinqj  a  further  appropriation  for  the  Ic- 
feiice  ot  our  inaritime  frontier.  This  aft  appropriated 
tor  tl»e  puipofe,  ,500,000  dollais. 

Pa  (led  March  10,  1812. 

10-  An  aft  for  a  loan  of  11,000,000  of  dollars  for  de- 
fr.ivni^  the  above  expenfes. 

Palled  M-Jich  14,  j8i8. 

11.  An  aft  concrrninjT  the  naval  eflablifhrncnt,  for 
repairing  the  frigates  Conllcllation,  Chefapeake  and 
Adams. 

For  this  purpofe  there  was  appropriated  300,000  dolls. 

Bv  this  aft  there  was  an  appropriation  wddc  of 
200,000  dollars  annually  for  three  years,  for  the  purchafe 
of  f\  Hock  of  timber  for  fhip  building.  The  fiiil  cij)pro- 
piiation  was  for  rebuilding  the  frigates  Philadelphia,  Gen. 
Green,  New  York  and  Bolton. 

Palled  March  30,  1812. 

12.  An  a6t  in  addtion  to  the  aft  to  raifc  an  additional 
militaiy  force. 

Palled  April  8.  1812. 

13.  An  aft  to  authorize  a  detachment  from  the  militia 
of  the  United  States,  to  the  amount  of  100,000  men. 
This  aft  contained  a  claufe  appropriating   ona  million 


V 


k 


I 


■V, 


. 


m 


:>io! 


12 


TFTE    OLIVr    nilASCff. 


-    /■ 


of  dollars  towaids  defraying  tl;e  expcnfcs  to  accrur 
iindci  it. 

Pallod  Apiil  lo,  1812. 

14.  Am  ad  foi  tlic  organization  of  a  corps  of  a''tifi. 
cers. 

P.I  (Fed  April  2.3,  1812. 

1,5    An  dti  for  the  better  regulation  of  the  ordnance. 

Palled  May  14,  1812. 

Suhseqmnt  to  the  tJeclnration  nf  war, 

16.  An  aft  for  tiio  more  perfeft  organization  of  the 
army  of  the  United  States. 

Palled  June  26,  1812. 

17.  An  a6^  making  a  fintlicr  appropriation  for  the  de- 
fence oi  the  maritime  frontier,  and  for  the  liipport  of  tlic 
army  of  the  United  States. 

PafTed  July  5,  1812. 

18.  An  a6l  making  additional  appropriations  for  tlic 
military  eftablilhmcnt  and  tor  the  Indian  department. 

Pdifed  July  6,  1812. 

U}.  An  aft  making  further  provifion  for  the  army  of 
the  United  States. 
Pafled  July  6,  1812. 


j     q, 


It  therefore  appears,  that  nearly  tlie  whole  fcfTion  was 
fpcnt  in  making  preparations  for  hoftilltv — for  offenfive 
and  defenfive  operations.  1  (hall  not  eafily  forgive  my- 
felf  the  very  extraordinary  error  of  which  I  have  ac- 
knowledged myfelf  guilty  on  this  fubjeft.  I  fhall  legard 
it  as  a  monition  as  long  as  I  live,  againft  precipit,ite  deci- 
fion.  And  may  I  take  the  libeity  of  hinting  t(;  t.io  reader, 
whoever  he  be,  that  he  may  perhaps  derive  a  ulctul  leffoii 
from  the  faft  ?  If  with  the  attention  I  have  been  in  the 
habit  of  paying  to  public  affairs---readiiig  two  or  three 
papers  every  day---and  perfeftiy  convinced  of  the  j.irticc 
of  the  war— I  have  neverthelefs  fallen  into  fuch  a  palpa- 
ble, fuch  a  monftrous  error,  on  To  j)lain  a  ])oint--.if  I  h^vc 
biought  fo  uij'ift  an  accufation  againft  the  congrefs 
which  declared  war-.-how  difficult  mull  it  be  for  perloir 


;*^ifc 


THE   OLIVE    UnANCll. 


2l'S 


to   iccrur 


icinofc  from  opporttinilics  n\'  'y\(\^t\i\^  corrcniy,  iind  lij- 
blcto  be  trlllci  [)y  inteielted  or  tuttiLiL-.  men,  to  form  ac- 
curate opiiiiotis  ? 

Let  it  be  bi-nio  in  mind  tli.it  among  the  mod  hein- 
ous charges  on  the  fubjed  of  the  w.n,  a^ainft  tlie  ad- 
iiiiiiidiation,  ihc  want  ot  (bjc  preparation  has  been  the 
nioli  piomintnt.  We  here  (ee  how  very  fallacious  and 
iintoiinclcd  is  tlie  allegation. 


n 


CHAP.  XXV. 


Hi'pvnndn's  of  Ihc  •minor  it  if  njs:oiiist  ihc  imhccilltif  nj  the 
uiajoritif.  PfVHicloiis  ctmsctiuonccft  of  vcit'spaper  mis- 
represetttalious.     Jiritish  ileceived  by  their  J'riciuls, 

While  the  fcrions  preparations  flatcd  in  the  preceding 
chapter  were  going  toiward,  the  federal  printers  through- 
out the  union  weie  pretty  generally  ;^nd  zealouily  em- 
jjloyed  in  ridiculing  the  idea  of  Nva; — peilnading  the 
public  that  all  thefe  meafurcs  \vere  illufory  and  in- 
tended to  intimidate  the  Britifh  mini II i\' — and  that  our 
goveinment  pod'eHed  neither  the  courage  nor  the  means 
to  venture  on  hollility. 

I  have  already  quoted  the  notorious  declaration  made 
by  fcveral  mcmbeis  of  congrcfs,  particularly  Mr.  Jofiah 
Quincy,  that  "  ike  majotily  could  not  ot  kicked  into 
lonr.  — 

I'his  courfe  of  proceeding  is  not  cafily  accounted 
lor.  It  muff  have  had  fome  motive.  And  it  requires  an 
extraordinary  degree  of  charity  to  afcribc  it  to  one  cither 
laudable  or  patriotic. 

Let  us  for  a  moment  fuppofc,  that  our  rulers  did  not 
really  mean  war — that  they  were  actually  deilitute  ot  the 
means  of  carrying  it  on — that  tliey  were  "  too  cowaidh 
^0  he  kicked  into  it'' — was  it  wiie,  was  it  prudent,  was  it 
honourable,  was  it  politic,  to  bla/on  our  deficiencies  to 
the  world — to  alRire  England  that  Ihe  might  fafely  and 
\\ith  impunity  continue  the  perpetration  of  her  outrages 
on  an  imofIi?nding  neutral,  becaufe  that   neutral  could 


1 


(i 


I 


i 


214) 


TUB    OLIVB    BP.ANUH. 


not  be  kicked  Into  war  to  red  ft  thefe  outrages  ?  Surely  not. 
In  purfuance  ot  tiie  plan  1  have  iol lowed  througliout 
this  work,  ot  eltabliihiug  all  p  >uits  of  impoitance  by  in- 
dilputal)le  evidence,  1  fui  j  <in  a  few  of  t!ie  paragiaphs  to 
winch  1  reter.  They  will  latisfy  even  the  moil  mciedu- 
lous  reader. 


r\r     i 


u, 


y^v  ,' ■ 


"The  proj«rl  of  attarlcinjj  Canada  is  now  given  up  Some  otlcr 
pl.iii  lb  lo  l)i  iti'vihtd."      riuiaili'lplnii  GiZtitr,  Jail.  JO,    \S\,i 

"Titiy  [tlu' l«  iiiiLTS  in  coiijiM'ssj  have  alicady  st'xii'  f.r  n)OUi:i)  in 
War  (;:j^^  Thij  art' cotiS(.i«ns  they  cavnal  commtitce^  promn'e,  and '.gr- 
in nutea  iLdi  ;  th.it  the  huiwls  «hicl»  Ix'^iii,  «il'  isivtr  timsh  il.  'iVicv 
shrink  from  it,     'I  hey  already  stagger  under  ike  weight. 

'*  Illusi  pedes  viliosum  J'erre  recu^wnl  corpus.^* 

They  are  fr  iihteved as  the  aipecl  btcome^  a  liillt  serious,  anti  wisli  to  go 
Louie,   Mill  think  1)1  n.''      Philaih-l[>hM  G.izcltr,  JcMi    10,    1812 

'*  If  you  think  il  vote  to  raise  25,««<H)  men.  I«i<)ks  like  war,  ^j^  yuiet 
your  apprelien.tions  Yon  do  not  niiderstfiml  what  is  heie<Mlle(l  niriii. 
a^eiiK  ■  I        'J'hereuill,  as   I   btlitte,  be  no  n'nr  J'  'i'/ie  Jcariuhiiop,    he 

videri  in  inuricil,  /he  non-triipoitulion,  and  president  a  I  c(iucu''S<»^'  iviU  riJU- 
ish  befoie  "Wtiviet  "  Uaiiunore  Fiikial  Gazelle,  ait  quoted  iii  (he 
Pliii.idi  ijihia  <]  ize!!e   J.in    13,    ISti;. 

"  1  Kll  \oii  Jiinis  AI  idisoti  vrill  not  dare  to  niarrli  a  man  lo  Cana- 
da utththi  a\i>»ed  »<))irit  o(°  warfu'C — .lot  a  inaii,siii— no— not  oiie— 
in  our  |Me^.v  ni  dcfeurekss  ktate.  iJij'So  no  more  oj  this  dream,  Pliiia- 
de.phi.i  G  tZ' tte,  J.in    27,  \ii\'i 

"  It  IS  inn  izuii;ly  inxl-uproiios,  and  morcnver  very  vexations,  tliat 
Ytliile  our  s<ntioels  of  j^nhic  hbcity  are  U'l^isl.iting  away  id  *'  ilit: 
full  tide  o(  siiei'»ssrnl  •  x |)(  i  iinenl'"  ii  W  ishui>>ton  ..  }""  their  well  liid 
plans  are  faiHui;  every  ivhere  :  i;'/"  the  two  main  s.vews  nf  their  durUug 
ivur,  app  ar  to  be  innsi  jni^euihli^  le/nxi^d  :_/'NmTtJK!l  MFN  ake 
TO  UK  HAU — Nt»ll  MUNI''V  T*)  P\Y  TIU  M  "  Alexaildl  tu  G  JZf  ue, 
as  quetcd  in  (he  iMiiiadtlphia  Gazedt,  May  i4,  ISli. 

This  paragraph  was  publilhed  onlv  five  weeks  before 
the  declaitition  of  war,  and  was,  with  hundreds  of  others, 
calculated  to  keep  up  the  delufion  to  the  lall,  at  home  and 
abroad. 

During  the  period  when  thefe  paragraphs  were  pub- 
lilhing  in  our  gazettes,  I  ielt  the  inoll  fei"'ous  uneafinefs 
on  tile  ful  j- "f.  1  believed  tiieir  effert  would  be  to  pro- 
duce war.  I  repeatedly  exprefTed  my  fears  on  the  fu  j  cl. 
I  was  convinced  tiiat  they  would  delude  England  into  a 
belief,  that  ihe  might  laugh  ou  efiforts  to  rco!n---and  that 
[he  would  perleveie  in  the  obnoxious  courfe  till  we  were 


»iwiiiai)i»i;>i.:v.  ,.-4i>Miiiii>»mito»»>iBJii»f.".'..ii7' 


THR    OLIVE  BRANCH. 


'2i5 


finally  "  nicked  into  war.'^  Among  other  gentlemen  to 
wtum  I  communiCited  my  apprehcnfions  on  this  fubjcM, 
were  James  Mil  nor,  Adam  Seybert,  and  William  An- 
deifon,  Efqrs.  then  reprefentatives  in  congrefs  trora 
this  ilate.  It  was  in  the  gallery  oi  the  houfe  of  repre- 
fentatives, and  as  far  as  I  rccolle^>,  early  in  May, 
1812. 

The  efforts  to  fprcad  this  delufion  were  not  confined 
to  tliis  fide  tlie  Atlantic.  No  Tlie  faiTie  indndrv  was  em- 
ployed in  letters  to  correfpondents  in  England  and  Ii eland, 
which  made  their  appearance  in  the  pu'jlic  papers  in  thofe 
kingdoms.  Never  was  more  application  employed  on 
any  fid")je£l — and  never  was  application  more  unholy  or 
pernicious. 

I  have  an  extraB,  from  one  of  thofe  letters,  to  lay  be- 
fore the  reader.  It  is  a  lair  (pecinun  of  hundreds  which 
reijlly  appear  to  liave  been  di^.f  ;tpd  bv  (t^"  the  moji.  fcrious 
apprehenjions  Uji  the  Bt't^jli  jliould  relax ^  and  ^^r  LEST 
WE    MIGHT    THUS    ESCAPK    WAR. 


From.  the.  Londonderry  Journal,  Jmip  iCi,  IS  12. 
Extract  of  a  Letter  to  gentleman  in  tlua  place,  dated 

PJvladclphia,  Mu;/.  8,  1812. 
*'  Yr.u  wHl  perceive  by  'he  copy  nf  »  bii  wliidt  I  riitlosi ,  ili  <t  we 
Anti  r'u;!U)3  wro  "  at  onr  iVirtii  7voik  ugain'*  Hiir  A^f  I  (ulvxe  yut 
not '0  he  afavmil  tit  ihn  1' n't  nee  of  ouv  fjrocee  Uiisc^.  ZjT  ^^'^  sli'dl 
cuudhiie  to  bhiater  u_  This  in  'in'  vharactevistc  n'j"  ^hid  ii<k 
■mni'lildo  more,  if  wr"  cni'd-     ijT,/^  But  it  is  not  in  our  porv/n'  IVe 

hiive  not  a  dollar  in  he  trratiiry — lynn  army  ilesrrT'titf  the  nnrnf  nf 
*"" — Oj'  ^'"'^  '"'^  uclUuhv  -w.'Jtnut  II  ttuvti  \(iiU'cl  ff>  tirs,  j^'  fiut  U 
ifloietij  of  tlie  loan  oj  eleven  imlliona  -wiU  ever  be  procured," 


I  wish  the  reader,  before  he  clofes  this  chapter,  to 
weigh  well  its  contents.  Let  him  dive  into  the  moll  pro- 
found receffes  ot  tiie  human  heart,  to  dlfcover  the  maia 
fpring  t'iiat  dilated  paragraphs  and  letters,  fraught  with 
fiifii  ruinous  confequences. 

I  am  fully  perfuaded  that  Great  Britain  did  not  defirc 


I    ' 


,!'  y 


216 


THE   OLIVE    BRANCH. 


aftual  war  ;  and  that  had  licr  miiiiflers  really  believed 
that  the  alternative  was,  war  or  a  repeal  of  the  orders  in 
council,  they  would  have  repealed  thct!i  in  leafon.  But 
their  Friends  on  this  fide  the  Atlantic  cruelly  deceived 
them.  Every  day's  exj)erience  proves  that  d^  one  inthf^ 
creet  ^imprudent,  or  injudicious  friend  dots  moreinjury  than 
three  enemies.  \^  Aad  the  triends  oi  England  in  this 
countrv  have  afFuided  undeniable  proofs  of  the  correal- 
nefs  of  the  mixim.  The  writers  whom  I  have  quoted 
above,  and  otiiers  ot  firnilar  character,  have  done  her 
more  injury  than  ten  times  the  number  of  the  moll  vio- 
lent anti-Anglicans  in  the  country. 

CHAP.  XXVI. 


^:  :    :S 


{  \ 


War  proceedings  in  Con2:ress.  Veas  and  JSTays.  Ine.vpU- 
cahle  conduct.  Mr.  (luinci/  and  other  violent  Federai'tafs 
voted  in  the  ajfirinative  on  almost  all  the  questions  leading 
to  u'ar — but  against  war  itself. 

This,  reader,  is  a  dry  and  dull  chapter.  It  is  little 
more  than  lifts  ot  names,  decies  repehta,  and  cannot  af- 
ford much  entert.'.inment.  But  if  you  have  fairly  tra- 
velled with  me  thus  far,  I  deprecate  your  pafTing  over 
thefe  few  pages.  What  they  may  want  in  entertainment, 
I  hope  they  will  make  up  in  inftruftion. 

When  the  vote  was  finally  taken  on  the  declaration  of 
war,  there  were  49  members  in  the  negative,  whofe 
names  are  fubjoincd — 

Nitys  — Messrs  Bxkrr,  Baitlrtt,  Blceckep,  Boyd,  Brpckonridjc, 
!ji-i;;ham.  Champion,  Cl»:tl«'nileu,  Cooke,  Dwenfioil  Ely,  EinntI, 
Filrh,  Gold,  Golclshornujjli,  Hufty,  Jncksot),  Koy,  Law,  Lewis,  Vlax- 
wtll,  iM'Biyde,  Mctcalt,  IMilnor,  iVIitihell,  MoscU,  Ncwbold,  Penr- 
sou,  Pitkiii,  PoJtt'i-,  Qniiiry,  Riiitdoi|i)),  flted,  RhIkj^Iv,  llodmaii, 
•Satiimons,  Stanford,  Steward,  Slow,  Stnrijfs,  Snlhvau,  Tnjju'"'') 
Talniadge,  Tallmun,  Trucy,  Van  Corllaudt,  VVIieatun,  White,  Wil- 
son,—49. 

I  annex  a  ftatement  of  the  votes  on  various  mcafiircs 
preparatory  to  war.  The  names  of  thofe  who  finally 
voted  again  ft  the  war,  are  in  Itulic. 


y*& 


THE    OLIVE  BnAXCH. 


Aii: 


December^  l6,  1311. 

"The  question  wa    taken  on  the  fnllowfnir  resolution  : 

"liiiJt  iL  is  ex}»ctiieijt  to  uolltorize  llie  Fi* 'iuleiit,  uiuler  proper 
rc;;iilatioi)3  (o  accept  the  service  of  any  iHt.tibcr  of  vuluittreis, 
not  exocdin^;  fifty  thousand  ;  to  be  organized,  truineil  and  held  in 
readiiiess  to  uct  on  such  service  as  the  exigonctcii  of  the  govcinuient 
lUity  require. 

"  And  decided  thus  : 

"  Yius — AI<9ton,  Anderson,  Archer,  Avery,  Bacon,  Baker,  Bard, 
Barllett^  Basset,  Bibb,  Bliickledge,  Uleecker,  Blount,  Boyd,  lirecken- 
r((/^'(?,  Brown,  Bnrwell,  Butler,  Culiioun,  Checvcs,  Chitten'len,  Coch- 
ran,  Cloploo,  Cot/ce,  Condit,  Cr:iwfor<l,  Davis,  Dawson,  Dinsmoor, 
Enwtt,  Findlcy,  Fisk,  Filch,  Frankiiii,  Gliolson,  Gold,  Goldsbornugh, 
Goodwyn,  Green,  Grnndy,  B.  Hall,  O.  H<ill,  Ilurpcr,  //m/?^.  Hyne- 
tuiin, Johnson,  Kent,  Ivini;,Lacock,  Lefover,  Little,Living8lon,  Lown- 
des, Lyie,  \lacon,  MaxiveU,  Moore,  M'Biijde,  M'Coy,  \rKee,  IM'Kim, 
Metcalf,  Milnor,  Mitchill,  .Morgan,  Morrow,  DTo^eli/,  Nelson,  A'e?t'6o/rf, 
Newlon,  Ormshy,  Pnuldin>;,  Pearson,  Picken*,  Piper,  Pitkin,  Pond, 
Porter,  Quincy,  Reed,  Ridgely,  Riny;gold,  Rhea,  Rojne,  Koberlg, 
Rodmtin,  Sage,  Sammons,  Seaver,  Sevier,  Seybcrl,  Shaw,  Sheft'ey, 
Smilie,  G.  Smith,  Stow,  fitvon^y  Sullivan,  Tulmadge,  Tulbiiun,  Tracy ^ 
Trou|»,  Turner,  Van  Cortlundt,  White,  Whltehill,  Williams,  VVid- 
gi'ry,  Wilson,  Winn,  Wriorhl,  Hawes,  Deahu  — 113 

*'  Nays — Messrs.  Bigelow,  Bngham,  Champion,  Davenport,  Ely, 
Gray,  Jackson,  Law,  Lewis,  Potter,  llandolph,  J.  Smith,  Stanford, 
Siurges,  Taggart,  Wheaton.— itt. 

"The  question  was  next  taken  on  the  fourth  resolution  of  the 
fomtnittee  on  foreign  relations,  in  the  followiiiK  words  : 

*'  That  the  President  be  authorized  to  order  out  from  time  to  time, 
such  delachmeuts  of  the  militia,  as  in  his  opinion  the  public  service 
may  require. 

"  And  derided  as  follows  : 

*'  Yeas  — Messrs  Alston,  Anderson,  Archer,  Avery,  Bacon,  Baker, 
Bard,  Barilett,  Basseil,  B:hh,  Blackledge,  fileecker,  Blount,  Boyd, 
Breckenridge,  Brown,  Burwell,  Butler,  Calhoun,  Cheeves,  Chittendpn^ 
Cochran,  Clopton,  Cooke,  Condit,  Crawford,  Davis,  Dawson,  Desha, 
Dinsmnor,  Earle,  Emoit,  Fin<lley,  Fisk,  Pitch,  Franklin,  Gholsoii, 
Quid,  Goldsborough,  Goodwyn,  Gray,  Green,  Gi  undy,  B.  Hall,  O  Hall, 
Harper,  Hawes,  Hiifty,  Hyneuian,  Johnson,  K<nit,  Kinp,  Laeock, 
Lefever,  Lewis,  Little,  Liviiii;ston,  Lowndes,  f..yie,  Macon,  Maxwell, 
Moore,  IWBryde,  M'Coy,  M'Kce,  M'Kim,  Metcalf,  Milnor,  MitchiU, 
Jl.irgau,  Morrow,  yi/o.»e/ir,  Nf'lHOu,  Sewbold,  N'-vvtoii,  Oi  msby,  PhuI- 
tliiia;,  Pearson,  Pickens,  I'iper,  Ptt/cin,  Pond,  Porter,  Potter,  Quincy, 
Randolph,  Reed,  Rid^elv,  Riii!;gn!d,  Rhea,  Ro.ne,  Robertii,  Rodman, 
Saje,  Sa>Bwion5,  Seaver,  Sevier,  Seytn.-rt  Shaw,  ShefF-v,  Saiilie,  G. 
Smith,  J,  Smith,  Stanford,  Strong,  f^ullivan,  Talmadge,  T'ltltnan,  TrO' 
cy,  Troup,  Turner,  Van  Cortluid,  W'teaton,  White,  Whitebill,  WiU 
lianis,  Widgery,  rFi/ion,  Wmn,   Wiight  —120. 

"  Niiys. — Messrs  Bigelow,  Brijjbam, Champion,  Davenport,  Jack- 
sOh,  Law,  Sturges,  Tagaart, — 8. 

19 


() 


.»:''* 


v 


tr"""^ 


2i% 


THE    OLIVE    IIUANOH. 


.11. 


!'   ■  » 


Eudem  die 

"  The  question  was  lakeii  oit  tlie  titili  resolution,  in  the  words  to\. 
lowiiitf  : 

'*  Thai  all  ihe  voRsels  not  now    in   servirc  b^longinv  to  the  nnw 
:mii1  wuilhy  uf  ic()air,  be  immediately  tilled  u|)  and  put   in  coainiis- 
sion. 

"  And  rallied  as  follows  : 

»' Yiii<i  —  iV1«'S8rs.  Alston,  Anderson,  Archer,  Avery,  Buoon,  B(2Apr, 
IJiird,  liaitldlf,  Bussftt,  Biscloxv,  BI:iekUdj:e,  lileerker,  BioiiiK, 
.Urccfceniiitge,  iSti^fiCTn,  Burwell,  Butler,  CuMioiin,  C/imtipion,  Clieevts, 
(JfiitternUn,  Co'  liiaii,  CU»i)(oii,  Coafce,  Condil,  Crawfoi<l,  Uavis,  Diiw. 
pmi,  Desh:!,  Dinsmonr,  Karlr,  Ely,  Einntl,  Findley,  Fitcli,  Friinkiin, 
(Jholsoii,  fVo/f/,  f^ioWv/joroM^/j,  Goodwin,  (Jreen,  Grundy,  U.  Hall,  O. 
Hall,  Harper,  Ha«es,  H yiieinaii,  .^nc^son,  JoUiisun,  Kcnl,  Kiii<j,  |,.». 
io<-k.  Law,  Let'ever,  l^itlio,  Livingston,  Lowodis,  Lyie,  Maxwell^ 
Moore,  M'Kryde^  M'Coy,  M'Kmi,  Melculf,  Milnor,  iMilc/iUl,  !Miir;;aii, 
Mortow,  Moselif,  NeUon,  Ntwbof.d,  Ne"tou,  Oimshy,  P.miilin;;, 
Pearson,  Pn  ktns*,  Piper,  Pitkin,  Pond,  Poller,  Qniricyy  Reed,  Ridsicly, 
Riiijj;:ol«l,  Rhea,  Roane,  Rolierls,  S.i;;e,  Sawmo'in,  Seavor,  Si-vier,  Sty- 
licit,  Shaw,  G  Sinilh,  J.  Smith,  Strong,  Xturira,  Sullivan,  'I'ltsunU, 
Tiilmadoe,  TuUman,  Tracy,  Troup,  Turner,  fan  Cortlandl,  fV/autoa, 
JV/iite,\\'u]\ii'>y,  (t//voH, Winn,   Wri^iht— 111. 

"  IS  ays — Messrs  Bii»h,  Boyd, .  Browp,  Giay,  Hufly,  Lewis, 
I\Ta(oii,  Potter,  Haiidolph,  Rodman,  Shefi'ey,  Smilte,  StuiilorJ, 
Whitehill,  Williams, — 15. 

T)fc    l9,  1611. 

•*  The  question  was  t  iken  on  the  followinf;  rosohiiou,  and  c.irried, 

"  That  It  is  expedient  to  permit  our  nierehaut  vessels,  o\vn(d  ex- 
clusively by  res  dint  etizens,  and  eommanded  and  navigated  snkly 
hy  citizens,  to  arm  under  proper  regulations  to  be  prcsoribed  by  law, 
in  self  defence  against  all  unliwful  proeeedini(s  towards  tliem  on  the 
high  seas. 

"Yeas — Messrs.  Alston,  Anderson,  Avery,  Baron,  Baker,  Bassetf, 
Bibb,  Bigelow,  Blaekledge,  Bteecker,  Breckenridoe,  Biigham,  Bntler, 
Calhoun,  Champion,  Cheeves,  Cliittenden,  Clopton,  Cooke,  Condit, 
Cra\»  fold, />aren;>or/,  Davis,  Dawson,  Desha,  Dinsmoor,  Ely,  Find- 
ley,  Fitch,  Franklin,  Gholson,  Gold,  Goldsborough,  Goodwyn,  Green, 
Grundy,  B.  Hall,  O  Hall,  Harper,  Hawis,  Hyneman,  Jackson,  Jolin- 
son.  King,  Lacoek.  Law,  Leffver,  Little,  Livingston,  Ly'e,  fllaxweU, 
Mnorr,  JSPBryde,  M'Coy,  Mefcalf,  Milnor,  Morgan,  Mosely,  Nelson, 
Netfhidd,  Newton,  Ornisliy,  Paulding,  Pearson,  Pickens,  Piper,  Pit- 
kin, Pleasants,  PoiuJ,  Porter,  Pearson,  QUINCY,  Reed,  Ridgebj, 
Ringgold,  Rhea.  Roane,  Sage,  Sammon'i,  Seaver,  Sevier,  Shaw,  Smilie, 
J.  Sinilh,  Utow,  Sttirges,  Taggart,  Talmadge,  Tallnian,  Tracy,  Troup, 
Turner,  Van  Cortlandl,  Wheaton,  White,  Widgery,  Wilson,  Bartlelt, 
Poftcr— 97. 

"Nays — Mf'ssrs.  Archer,  Bird,  Blount,  Boyd,  Brown,  Cochran, 
flufly,  Kent,  Lowiidrs,  Macon,  M'Kee,  M'Kim,.  Mitchill,  Morrow, 
Robeus,  Rodman,  Shcifiy,  Stanford,  Stewart,  Whitehiil,  Williams, 
Wright  —22. 


-*<«>»*-" 


THE    OI.IVE    QUANCII. 


2VJ 


le  words  fol- 
io tlie  niivy, 
in  coiiiinis- 


aron,  Bahcr, 
:er,     IJIomU, 
ion,  ClH'fVis, 
Davis,  Dsiw- 
?/(,  Fianklin, 
13.   Hull,  (). 
ii,  Kinsj,  L.>. 
If,  Maxwc-H, 
hill,  Moi^.in, 
y,    P.iMldiiii;, 
ieed,  Ibdycly, 
,  Sevif r,  Sty- 
van,   'I'aumnil, 

lilt,     fF/iC-«/01f 

ufly,      Lewis, 
lie,    SlanlbrJ, 


l9,  1611. 
,  B»d  Ciirriod, 
la,  ovviKtl  fx- 
riijate*!  solely 
ribeii  by  law, 
s  them  oil  the 

Uiker,  Bassctt, 
'ghnm,  Butler, 
loofce,   Conilit, 
n,  Ely,  Find. 
<lwyi»,  Greri), 
lackson,  Jwlni- 
.y'-e,  Maxwell, 
Toselii,  Nelson, 
s,  Piper,  Pil- 
Reed,   Ridgdij, 
Shiiw,  Sinilie, 
Tracy,  Trou|), 
Ison,   Bartlelt, 


kwn,  Cofliraii, 
•hill,  Morrow, 
hill,  Williams, 


Juiiuary,  6,  IS  -. 

♦•The  house  took  np  the  hi  I  tor  ruisinfj  an  adiiiiion.'il  military 
force:  which  filially  passed,  9 i  to  3i  The  yeas  ami  iinys  were  :.3 
follovv-i : 

••  Y(';i3.— Messrs.  Mstoii,  Aiulersoti,  Archer,  Avery,  IVtcon,  Riud, 
J]artlett  Bussett,  liilih,  IShiek'edge,  lileecktiv,  U'oiini,  lirovm.  Mur. 
vi'll,  IJiUlii',  (;al!ionn,  Clioi,ve«,  Clay,  Cuchran,  Cloi)lo;i,  (Jomi't, 
Crawford,  Davis,  Diwsoii,  Desha,  Diiisnioor,  E:.rle,  Emott,  J'liidley, 
Fisk,  FraiiU.lin,  fiholson,  Golds  (ji-een,  Grundy,  l»  Hull,  O  Hal', 
llarOiM',  Hawes,  Hyneinaii,  Juliiisoii,  Kent,  Ivin;;,  li'icoek,  LeftMci, 
Little,  Liviiissioii,  Lowiulus.  Lyie.  Miixwcll,  Moore,  Ai'ioy,  M'Kec, 
M'Kiin,  J\l''tcalf,  Ali!noi\  Jlitcliill,  .Morgan,  Morrow,  yelson,  New, 
Ni.wtoii,  Driiishy,  Paulili  i<r,  I'ickeiis,  Piper  I'ood,  I'orter,  Q'JIN(,'V, 
RiHid,  Hing:i;o!d,  llliea^  Hoane,  Rilierts,  S'.kgv,  S mimiii^,  Scavir,  Se. 
yJL'r,  Scybert,  Sh.iw,  (•  Smith,  J  Smilli,  .  liong.  .S  /.'ivcut,  'Vallmmi, 
Talliaferro,  Tract/,  l'roup,T>;riifcr,  Van  Curtluiult,  Wiiliains,  \\idi;ery, 
AViiH),  Wright.— 94. 

•*  Nays.  — M'essrs.  Bigelow,  Boyd,  r)rco1venridgf,  T!)  IglKim,  Oliann- 
Tiioii,  Cliittenden,  Davenport,  Ely,  Fiteli,  llufly,  Jaiksim.  Key,  Law, 
Lewis,  Macon,  M'Uiyde,  Mosely,  Nt.whold,  I'earsoo,  rnkiii.  Potter, 
Randolph,  Kodniaii  bheiVcy,  Sniilie,  Stanford,  Stewart,  Slow,  Sturges, 
Taij^art,  Falriia.lge,    NVhealoii,  White,  Wilson. — ;3i, 

Javnanj,  ilO,  1812. 

"The  engrossed  hill  conceining  (he  naval  eslablislmient,  was  read 
the  third  time  and  paose^l.  T\\c  yeiiS  and  nays  on  its  passage  were  r.s 
follows  : 

"  Yeas. — Messis.  Alsioo,  Anderson,  Bassctt,  Blackledge,  Brecken- 
ri(l:^e,  Burwell,  Hotler,  Callioun,  tlheeves,  Chitteiuh'ii.  Condit, 
Davenport,  Davis,  Dliismoir,  Ely,  Eniolt,  Findhy,  Fisk,  Fitch,  Frawk- 
liii.  fiholson,  Goodwin,  Gi-' en,  ll.iiper,  Mawes,  llynemaii,  King, 
Little,  Livingston,  .^owe-des,  ^Maxwell,  Moor.,  J\V linidt',  M'^-'oy, 
M  Kim,  JVlilnor,  Mitcluil,  N'elson,  \evi\.Qi\,  Pitkin,  Pleasants,  Pond, 
Potter,  Richardson,  Kiniigold,  Rhea,  Seyhert,  ''heftVy,  (J.  Smith,  J. 
Sin  th,  Stewart,  Stow,  SturJS^^'s,  Ta^^ar't,  Talliafeiro,  Tracy,  Troup, 
Titrnur,  Van  Cortiandt,  l\  heatoii,  IVhite,  fViisan,  Winn,  Wnght, 
—65. 

'"  Navs. — .Messrs.  Bacon,  Bibh,  Boyd,  Rrown,  Cocliran  Crawford, 
Desha,  O.  Hall,  Hufty,  Johnson,  Lacock,  LyIe,  .Macon,  M'Kee,  Met- 
ealf,  Morgan,  N'  w,  Ne'.\b'>Id,  Piper,  Roane,  Rohi  rts,  Rodman,  Sage, 
beaver,  Shaw,  Srailie,  Stanford,  Strong,  Mitchill,  Williams. — 30. 

February,  19,  1812. 

"  The  engrossed  bill  for  authorizing  a  loan  for  eleven  millions  of 
«loll:irs,  was  read  the  third  lime,  and  the  questio.i  being  put,  "shall  tlie 
bill  |>ass  its  tinrd  reading," 

"  Yeas. —  Messrs.  Alston,  Anderson,  Archer,  Bacon,  Bard,  Bassett» 
Ribh,  lileecker,  Boyd,  Rrown,  Burwell,  Butler,  Calhoun,  Ch»<eves, 
t'lity,  Cochran,  Comtit,  Cravyford,  Davis,  Dawson,  Dtsha,  Dinsmnor, 
Earl,  Einott,  Findley,  F'itk,  Franklin,  Gholson,  Gold,  (iondMyn, 
firein,  Grundy,  B.  Hall,  O.  Hall,  Harper,  Hawes,  Hufty,  Jolinson, 
Kent,  King,  Lai  ock  Lefev.  r,  Little,  Livingston,  Lowndes,  Lvie, 
Macon,  Maxwell,  Moore.  M'Coy,  M  Kim,  Metcalfe  Mitchill,  Morgan, 


^ 


T41 


229 


THB    ©LITE   BRANCIC, 


m 


1 41 

ill 


•MoiTOw,  Nelson,  New,  Newholil,  Newton,   OiniRbv,  P'ckcns,  Piper 
I'leiisant",    Wmd,    I'oilev,    J^ottev,   Qiinici/,  Reed,   Kh  iKiidsnn,  Kin"* 
gold,   Rli(.'.'i,   Iloane,  Roberts,  S:»^e.  Suinmoiia,  Stav  r,  Si-vi«.r,  rfevheii, 
£)finw,  Smil'e,  G.  Sinitli,  .)    Sn.irli,  Stow,  .Mrou);,  'I'vdcu.  Trdup",  Tur- 
ner,  Van  Covtlaitdt,   WhitLhill,  WkIj;' rv,  Wini,',  Wiip;l">t.~92. 

"Nays  —  >U-8sis.  I{?iker,  Hig.  low,  liieckenriiljje,  Utigham,  (iiHm- 
|>ion,  Miiltcnilen,  Uavenijort,  i''ilfh,  Gnl  sboi()tsj»ti,  Gray,  Jackson, 
Law,  Lewis,  Miln  r,  \losi  ly,  IVititoii,  I'ilkin  li  iKlol|ih,  lii(lp;ely, 
Kodmnn,  Sheffey,  Stanford,  Stewart,  btuiges,  Taggart,  Talii,a»!gi', 
Wheatoii,  White,  Wilson.— 29. 

I  hope  the  reader  has  fully  examined  thofe  dry  lifls, 
and  has  his  mind  prepared  ior  the  refle6lions  I  have  to* 
Jubmit  upon  them. 

No  man  will  deny  that  a  public  funQionary  who  a61s 
with  giofs  and  manitell  niconfiftency  in  his  political 
career,  efpecially  in  matters  o\  the  higheft  poflible 
importance  to  his  conftituents,  forieits  their  confidence. 
OF  courfe  it  is  extremely  dangerous  to  lubmit  to  his 
guidance. 

The  war  was  either  juft,  or  unjiift. 

Every  man  who  believed  it  unjuft,  and  who  voted 
for  a  ieries  ot  mcafures  leading  to  it,  betrayed  his 
t'jiill. 

Every  man  who  voted  for  the  mcafures  leading  to 
war  ;  who  oppofed  it  after  it  was  declared  ;  and  who, 
as  far  as  in  him  lay,  thwarted  the  meafures  adopted  to 
carry  it  on,  was  guilty  of  a  grofs,  manifeft,  and  palpa-, 
ble  inconfiftency — and  in  either  one  or  other  courfe 
betrayed  his  truft. 

That  thefe  pofitions  are  correft  cannot  be  denied.  1 
proceed  to  apply  them — and  (hall  ilngle  out  an  individual 
to  make  the  cafe  more  ftriking. 

.  Jofiah  Quincy  and  many  other  members  voted,  as 
we  have  feen,  ^for  a  fet  of  meafures^  all  ■bredicated 
upon  an  approaching  war.  ^  But  ftveral  of  them 
voted  againjl  the  loan  for  raifing  the  money  nece/Jary  to 
give  eff'ed  to  thofe  meafures.  ^  They  afterwards 
voted' againjl  the  war  itfelf.  ^  Jind  further,  tha 
did  not  merely  vote  againji  the  zuar,  but  (^  thirty- 
four  of  them  publifJied  a  mojl  inflammatory  proteft,  ad- 
'  drejed  to  thm   confiituenfs,  to  '  c.xate.  than    t&    oppof 


THE    OLIVE  HllANCH. 


:4^l 


the  war.     This  proteft,  and  other  violent  mcafurcs,  u'crc 
fatally  but  too  fuccefstul. 
I  annex  the  names  ot"  the  proteftors.     . 

Mossrs.  nria;liiiin,  Higclow,  M'^ridu,  nreekeiinil.«%  Hukcr,  nu-ecker, 
Ch:i:ni)ioii,  (.Miitrendi'U,  D.ivftiport,  Kmott,  Kly,  I'lUU,  fioM,  (iolds, 
l)iioiii;!>,  .(iickson,  Ktv,  li<"wis,  Lnw,  Moseley,  Miliior,  l^ntlur,  I'u-arson- 
i'llkin,  Qiiiiicy,  Ki;l'(!,  Ili.lsit'ly,  Sullivan,  siewart,  Slurges,  I'aliurtdgo, 
'I'ag^ar',  While,  Wilson,  W.ivitoi). 

I  aver,  that  the  whole  of  the  annals  of  legiflation, 
fiom  the  firlt  organization  of  deliberative  bodies  to 
this  hour,  (^  cannot  produce  a  more  fimfler^  dark,  or 
mv/i'ncus  policy.  Thefe  gentlemen  are  moft  folomnly 
cited  before  the  bar  of  the  public,  and  called  upon  to  ex- 
plsin  the  motives  of  their  condui^l  to  tliat  country,  which 
lv;s  been  brouglit  to  the  jaws  of  peidition  bv  the  oppofi- 
tion  which  they  excited  againll  a  war  which  they  counte- 
iMuced  in  almoft  every  ftage  but  the  ialt. 


•  CHAP.  XXVIT. 

Declaration  of  war.     Violently  opposed. 

At  length,  on  the  i8th  of  June,  1812,  war  was  de- 
tlired^againft  England  indue  form,  after  a  fcflion  of 
a''.)\v  i\'.vQ.n  months,  and  the  moft  ardent  debates.  The 
fiiK.1  vote  \vas  carried  in  the  fenate  by  ig  to  13 — and  in 
tiie  houfe  of  reprefentatives  by  79  to  49  :  aflinnitives  in 
both  houles  98,  negatives  62  ;  that  is,  more  than  three  to 

t'.VO. 

War  then  became  the  law  of  the  land.  It  was  the 
paramount  duty  of  all  good  citizens  to  fubmit  to  it* 
I'A'on  ihofe  who  doubted  its  juftice  or  expediency,  and 
u'ho  had  oppofed  its  adoption,  were  bound  to  acquiefce  ; 
l')r  the  firft  principle  of  all  republican  government 
— and  of  all  government  founded  on  reafon  and 
ji^lice,  is,  that  the  will  of  the  majority,  fairly  and 
cunft;tution:lh/  exprelTed,  is  to  be  the  fupreine  law, 
19* 


,.  ? 


-'  n 

Pt 

t&j 

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Ki'-l 

sf 

m 

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11 

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I 


^:2 


THE    OLIVfi    BKANOH. 


To  t!rat  tlie  minority  is  CicrcJIy  bound  to  fuhinit.  Aiiv 
other  dofclrine  is  jjcobinical  and  dilorgdni/Zmg.  and 
has  a  dirett  tendency  to  overtlirow  all  governnicnt, 
and  introduce  anarchy  and  civil  ^var.  IF  it  be  lawful 
lor  the  minority,  in  the  unparalleled  way  t'ncy  have  done*, 
to  oppole  or  to  piralize  the  government,  and  deteat  it.', 
meafiires,  on  the  pretext  that  they  arc  unj  ift,  fuch  pre- 
texts can  never  be  wanting.  And  I  avertiiat  ^il  mould 
be  full  as  ju/l^  as  r7ghteaiis,-ai  legal,  and  at  conjlitutional, 
for  Mr.  fiolmes  at  the  head  of  the  mtfiority  in  MafJ'achu- 
Jetti,  to  bejiige  governor  Strong,  in  his  houfe,  and  coerce 
him  to  retire  from  office,  as  ^"T  it  is  for  the  Kings,  the 
IVchjlers,  the  Hanfons,  and  the  ('ores,  to  befiege  prefident 
MaJ-ifon  at  IFa/Jungton. 

While  the  federal iRs    had  the    government    in  thfir, 
hands,    they   inculcated  thefe  maxims  with  great  cnergv 
and   eftltrh     The   lead  oppofition   to  law    excited  their 
,v  iitmoll  indignation  and  abhorrence  ;  aud  the  vocabulary 

^  ul  vituperation  was  exliauftcd  to  brand  it  and  its  per- 
petrators with  infamy.  But  to  enforce  rules  that  operate 
lo  our  advantage,  when  we  have  power,  and  to  fubmit 
TO  thofe  rules,  when  they  operate  againft  us,  are  widely 
dilTerent  things.  And  the  federalifts,  as  I  hare  already 
remarked,  abandoned,  when  in  the  minority,  the  wife  and 
falutary  maxims  of  political  economy  which  they  had  fo 
eloquently  preached  when  they  were  the  m<tj;)rity. 

And  they  were  not  fatisfied  with  mere  preaching. 
They  had  occafional  recouife  to  violc^nce.  A  band  of 
Philadelphia  volunteers,  during  the  weliern  infurre6lion, 
Seized  a  printer  at  Reading  by  force  and  violence  in  his 
houfe,  and  fcourged  him  in  the  market  place  for  a  libel 
againft  the  government,  not  the  twentieth  part  as  virulent 
as  thofe  that  are  daily  publifhed  at  prefent  with  impunity. 

War  is  undoubtedly  a  tremendous  evil,  and  can  never 
be  fuflfiiciently  deplored.  It  ought  to  be  avoided  bv  all 
honourable  means.  But  there  are  cafes  which  prefent- 
greater  evils  than  war  as  an  alternative.  The  que  ft  ions 
f€fpe6ling  the  exifting  war  with  Great  Britain  are,  whe- 
ther it  was  warranted  by  (he  conduft  of  that  nation — and 


i'l 


TlfE    OLIVE   BRA.N'OH. 


22t 


whether,  after  having  been  duly  declared  hy  the  con  (Unit- 
ed authorities,  it  was  not  the  incumbent  duty  of  tlie  whole 
nation  to  have  united  iti  their  fupport  of  it.  Tfie  firft  of 
thcfe  queftions  is  ot  fo  much  ini;-)  Jitarice  lliat  I  fhali  de- 
vote to  it  the  28th  chapter  entire.  I  have  already  fulFi- 
ciently  difcufled  t*»e  fccond  in  the  beginning  of  the  pre- 
fent  chapter. 

From  the  hour  of  the  declaration  of  war,  a  fteady, 
fyflematical,  and  energetic  oppofition  was  regularly  orga- 
nized again  ft  it.  The  meafure  itfelf,  and  its  authors, 
and  abettors  were  denounced  with  the  utmoft  virulence 
,\\\i\  intemperance.  The  war  was  unholy — wicked — bale 
— perfidious — unjuft; — cruel — and  corrupt.  And  evcrv 
man  that  in  any  degree  co-operated  in  it  or  gave  aid  to 
carry  it  on — was  loaded  with  execration.  It  has  been  re- 
cently pronounced  in  one  of  our  daily  papers  to  be  the 
moil  wicked  and  unjall  war  that  ever  was  waged.  The 
difiegard  of  truth  and  of  the  moral  fcnfe  of  the  reader, 
which  fuch  a  declaration  betrays  is  calculated  to  excite 
ihe  utmoft  alionilhment.  Can  this  war  for  an  inftant  be 
compared  to  the  atrocious  and  perfidious  war  waged  by 
Bonaparte  again  ft  Spain — to  the  treacherous  war  of  Eng- 
land againft  Denmark,  begun  by  a  moft  lawlefs  and  un- 
precedented attack  upon  the  (hipping  and  capital  of  an 
imoftending  neutral  ?  I  pafs  over  thoufands  of  other 
iudances. 

Thofe  who  were  unacquainted  with  the  caufes  that  led 
to  this  war,  might,  from  the  publications  that  appear 
againft  it,  believe  that  the  United  States  had  been  wholly 
the  aggre (Tors— that  England  had  been  a  tame  and  (ub- 
ini{rive  fufFerer  of  depredation,  outrage,  and  infult—and 
fhat  our  rulers  had  been  wantonly  led  by  inordinate  and 
accurfed  ambition  to  engage  in  a  ruinous  and  deftruftive 
war,  to  enrich  themfelves— fquander  away  the  public 
treafure-— and  impoveri(h  the  nation.  They  were,  it 
would  appear,  aftuated  by  as  unholy  motives  as  ever  im- 
pelled Attila,  Genghis  Khan,  or  Bonaparte,  to  perj)etrate 
outrage  and  cruelty  to  the  utmoft  extent  of  their  power. 

Thefe  allegations  are  made  in  the  ilrongeft  language 


M 


I     \^m\ 


■      * 

1 


^K3 


^r&i^^-li^L^    t-lH-^-i'- 


■j^^. 


0^  -mt  W 


TMl.  OMVK    URANCII. 


! 


hi  I, 


in  the  public  papers  in  London.  Tiie  prince  recent  has 
appealed  to  the  worhl  thnt  Great  Britain  was  not  the  air- 
grcflbr  in  tlie  war.  And  the  louls  ol  the  admiiiihv  al'- 
I'ert  that  war  was  dec  hired  aftf^r  a^.  the  grievances  of  this 
counhy  had  been  removed. 

The  federal    papers  re-echo  and    magnify  the  accuTa. 

'tlons  of  the  Britilh  writers,  and  have  fucceedcd  fo  tar  as 

to   inflame  a  large  poition  oJ  the  public   with  the   uioO; 

frantic   exafperation   again  11   the  rulers   of  their  choice, 

whom  tiiey  fufpefl  of  having  abufed  tlieir  confidence. 

Governors  of  Hates  in  their  addiefles,  as  well  as  fciiatcs 
and  houfes  of  reprefentatlves  in  their  replies,  have  iakcii 
the  fame  ground-"and  all'umed  guilt,  profligacy,  and  cor. 
ruption  as  the  parents  of  the  declaration  of  war. 

The  honfe  of  reprefentatives  of  Mafrtchufctts,  regard- 
lefs  of  the  holy  rule,  ''judge  not,  leji  ye  he  judged''  in  the 
moft  untpi.ilified  manner,  with  an  utter  delUtution  of  tlic 
leafl  femblanceof  cluuity,  affeit,  that 

*'Tlie  \'c\\\  cause  of  the  wwr  must  !>e  traced  to  the  first  systematical 
aliiiinlriniiieht  of  the  policy  of  \\  Hsiritiu;!ori  and  llie  tVitiids  and  IraiiKii 
of  tl»e  constitution;  tf»  inipliicahlc  aniinnslly  ns^uinst  ihise  men,  aMil 
theii-  iinivti'sal  exclusion  from  all  tonctin  in  (lie  p'lvei  nmcnt  of  the 
»;otihlr_v  ; — to  the  Influence  of  worlhli  ss  furtip'ncrs  ovt-r  tltr  jjT' ss,  arid 
I'.'C  dtliberi»tlons  of  the  s;ovei'uii<ent  in  h11  its  liraiicliLS  ; — l<i  (ijealoimi/ 
of  rommgvcial  sfntes,*  fear  of  their  power,  contempt  of  (hnir  fnriuiliiy 
avdif^nvivunce  r.f  their  tviic  character  andimpor/aiice  ,• — to  l!if  iiijiiiliiy 
ofctit  lii'  stntts  fortlie  wilderness  reset  ved  tor  the  niiaeruijlc  iilnjrigiius ; 
— to  a  \ioleitl  passion  lor  coiujiiest,"  &cc 


Witii  equal  candour  the  fenate  of  that  flate,  not  to 
be  outdone  by  the  other  legiflativc  branch,  declares 
that 


e: 


*' CC/'  "^''c  ■"""*  w^"  founded  iti  falsehood,  ^rT  tleclared  -ivithoutne' 
cesaity,  imil  Q^"  ''*  ''<*"'  ol>je<:t  -zuas  extent  of  territo'-y  hy  ntijwt  con- 
quest,  and  ij^  to  aid  the  late  tyrant  of  Euraps  in  his  view  of  aff^'niit- 
kizement." 


*  The  absunlity  and  total  wnnt  of  foundation  of  these   allcgalions  1 
shall  fullj  establish  tn  a  subsequent  chapter. 


.TUC    OLIVE    BRANeH. 


iiS 


CHAP.  XXVIII. 


se  nllrgotions 


Peuce  Party.     Composed  of  warlike  materials.     Repeated 

clamunr  for  war. 


Immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war,  there  was 
a  party  formed,  called  the  "  Peace  Party,"  which  com- 
bined nearly  the  whole  of  the  iederalifts  throughout 
the  union.  Their  objeft  was  to  expofe  the  war—the 
adininiflration--  the  congrefs  who  declared  it— and  all 
WHO  fupported  it,  to  reprobation--and  to  force  the  gov- 
ernment to  make  peace. 

This  party  embraced  various  defcriptions  ol  pcrfons,  all 
cnlifted  under  the  banners  of  fcdcralifm,  whom  it  may 
not  be  improper  to  enumerate. 

Firft,  thofe  who  were  clamorous  for  war  with  Eng- 
land in  1793,  for  her  depredations  on  our  commerce. 

Secondly,  thofe  who  declared  and  fupported  the  wat 
again  ft  France  in  1798. 

Thirdly,  thofe  who  were  vociferous  for  war  again  ft 
Spain  in  1803,  when  (he  intcrdifted  us  from  the  right  oC 
(lepofit  at  New  Orleans. 

Fourthly,  thofe  who  in  1806,  urged  the  government 
to  refift  the  aggrelTions  of  England,  and  to  make  the  al- 
{Qnuuve—redre/s  of  wrongs  or  WAR. 

Fifthly,  thofe  who,  after  the  attack  upon  the  Cliefa- 
peake  in  1807,  were  clamorous  for  war,  as  the  only  mode 
ill  which  fatisladlion  could  be  had  for  fuch  an  outrageous 
infiiit.  .  ;         ^'.;      , 

To  enable  the  reader  to  make  a  fair  comparifon  of  the 
feveral  degrees  of  complaint  at  thefc  fevcral  periods  oF-% 
fiine,  I  annex  a  fynoptical  view  of  them. 


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-,  ?/ 


I  be^r  the  reader  will  pay  particular  attention  to  this  ta- 
t)le.  L(  t  him  for  a  moment,  whether  federal  ill  or  demo- 
crat, d.veft  himfelf  of  all  pi' j  idice  on  this  fulj  tl. 
Let  him  fiippofe  himfelf  called  to  decide  upon  events  of 
a  ^ormer  at;e  or  diff^tnt  country.  Let  him  compate  the 
dilTerent  grievances  together,  and  I  trufl  he  muff  acknow- 
ledge  tht  tliole  of  1812,  very  far  outweighed  any  o^iill 
of  the  others. 


IIIE    Ol.lVli:    KRAVOH. 


«^ 


a 
J 


ion  to  tbis  ta- 
all  ft  or  demo- 

this  fubj  ^i 
ipon  events  of 

connpa»e  «he 
muft  acknow- 
hed  any  o^*ll 


Lcl  us  confi'ler  tlic  cafe  ot  the  furpcnrioii  ol  the  ii>;ht 
'il  ilcpofit  at  New -Oj  leans.  On  that  occafion  the  Icdc- 
lal  paity  in  congicfs  ami  out  dI  doors  were  loud  in  tlielr 
fiamour  lor  war,  (jT  wilkout  cvfn  al/ow/rijr  time  fnr 
niakint^  an  atlfrnpt  to  procure  redrffs  h\  ncf^onatton.  Mo- 
tions were  nude  in  con^rcls  lor  raifin^r  ^0,000  nieti  to 
fail  down  the  \Ii(Tiiri()j)i  in  order  to  ch.illile  the  info- 
icnce  ot  tlie  Spmiards.  Tliey  upl)raided  the  jvoveintiu'iit 
for  Its  purillaiiinilty  in  not  vindicating  tlu*  u  itional  hon- 
our. The  cry  tlica  was — "'  milliom  for  Jtjttue^  not  a 
ant  for  tribute''  • 

lulrcict  of  a   letter  from  the  Sent  of  Gifmrniunit  to  u 
friend  in  tMassacluisdh. 

'•  Tlic  MisRinfiippi  liver  is  the  romnimt  hic;)tMay  (o  tlip  propic 
of  the  «v«si«>in  roui.try,  oh  mIikIi  IIu'v  nitixt  p.iHH  \^\\\\  llxir  pin- 
(liifi'to  ih^i'  ket  *"/'  '17iey  rii  ler  will  siifTcr  Ihtt  hiifhwiy  t»  he  obtlrurltd 
r,r  thul  iifi.  (Jj^  'iiie  _free  navifjutinn  of  lliii  iiim  must  de  prencrvtil  to 
that  portiitn  of  the  /I •iierican  fhople,  or  llic  Anwricnn  empire  luit^t  Ac 
ditmem'ien'd.  {J^  If  U'e  hud  n  Wa-hiiififon  nl  the  heiitl  of  our  ffn- 
trnmer.t  I  should  expect  Jinn  df.cun e  mca^uni  wmild  upon  iliii  nvcuiioit 
tie  pii  siivd ;  lliat  u  •iiililuiy  fori  f  stitKi  iciil  lo  liikf-  S'tiv  (htfi'ts, 
wuiilil  itiiiiicdiiitfly  niitl  vijiliuut  dtlay  be  UH>)fiiil>i«'(i  nt  Mif  S'utcha,  iit 
the  kMiHsl»sip)ii  teiritnry  ;  tlml  npoii  llii' ict'uHal  nt  tlic  Sp)iiiisli  );<iv- 
pntmrnt,  iipmi  (ItMiiand,  to  fuKil  I  lit*  treaty  ;  thai  <trmy  lluis  nssnii- 
lilcil  ^liixild  im.iK'tlinlfly  pioctcd  dov«ii  tW<>  rivrr,  mid  lake  pusu^sHUMi 
i^f  New- O'lt fins-  (,Jj*  Rut  f  apprt-hend  no  such  vijioinus  medsure^  xviU  be 
adopted  bif  our  present  executive— Vtttwx  t'lW  rcdu  lioii  ot'  tli»-  iirniy  I'Ht 
vrar,  M'liat  rcjjiilar  tritopx  |iavi>  vte  rtMiiniiiiii';;  to  br  ciiip'oycd  iu  lliut 
fcivii't?'     Boston  Ct'iitinel,  Jaiiiiaiy  ip,   13o;j 

*'  Not Ailhiitaudiiig  llie  »«;//•  nnrf  irafcr  measiir«'« 'lie  administmlinn 
his  ili(iii!;|it  proper  to  adopt  n-spectin*  tlie  "  Occlwion"  of  i  Iu-  port 
of  New-Orleans — tl»e  lan»iiaif«-  of  ihc  people  on  tlie  occluttioit  h  di- 
rectly the  reverse."     B/jJtoii  C'ciitinel,   Feb.  16,  laoJ.  ,'• 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from   Washington. 

"  We  ilisupprove  ■.Jj'  the  timid  and  time  itrvin^  meamrex  whicli  our 
^overiiin'Mil  li  ib...udopted  relative  to  the  vioUiiimi  of  om  Jrtalv  »'tU 
Spain  ;  the  otates  uhicli  border  on  the  Ohio  ntid  Mississippi  a.e  most 
immediately  interested  in  uh«l  the  president  ealis  the  "  oeclumon" 
of  the  port  of  New  Orleans.  O.i  the  I4ll)  Mr  /;o««,of  Pennsybaniaf 
m*iie  a  most  aide  nnd  aiiimaled  spreeh  in  lb'*  a<  luir,  in  whieb  he  de- 
stribed  in  striking  colonrs,  tiies-'o  t'on  of  the  west-rn  ennnt' v,  and 
^  urged  th:  rietemty  of  taking  effectual  measures  for  (heir  relief,  and  in. 


t: 


il 


*       w  .41 


• '^r*-.,. .  „  ^„A3»».r»— 


.^S 


THE   OLIVE  BRANCH. 


Ff    "•'.' 


support  nf  nafional  honour.  After  having  spoken  more  than  on  boiii. 
hiv  Rosa  iut'oimeil  iho  Sciiittr,  that  he  had  prepaiTil  teveral  rcfinlu- 
lioiiH  oil  the  8nl>ject  which  he  asked  leave  to  siihcnit.  The  democrats 
Irnmtdiaeely  moved  that  the  gillcrics  shnnM  be  cleared.  Mr.  Jinn 
tlifn  d*"clttied  that  if  the  liiscuftsion  was  to  be  secret^  he  should  not  offar 
the  resolutiom,  or  make  any  further  observations  on  the  subject.  The  gal- 
Urics  wiTC  howc\er  cleared  by  the  majority^  nnd  the  senate  soon  aj- 
jouriied  It  is  understood  that  a  grand  caucti.*  w.is  held  lh:U  even> 
ins^',  nnd  the  niijority  dreading  (he  effiTt  sueh  proceedin»8  mipht 
\\,i\r.  nil  th(^  public  mind,  the  next  niornini;  it  waa  dttciinined  in 
■e:i;4ic,  thi.t  the  discussion  bhoiild  be  public.  Bsston  CentincI, 
Maich  2,  1803. 

/ 

JS^ew-Odeans. 


"  Nothing  is  more  contagions  than  example:  the  meek  and  lowly 
sv'nil  which  infloeiiccs  the  conduct  of  the  executive  towards  Spim, 
hart  infected  ewn  the  armed  force  on  the  frontier;  and  the  pioiu't'is 
of  their  country,  (J^j"  WHOSE  fiWORDS  OUGHT  TO  I,EAP  FROM  THEIR 
SCA  BUARDS  TO  HbtiENT  ITS  INJURIES,  arc  MOW  seen  to  catch  at  eve. 
rs'  appearame,  however  evantscent,  to  promote  the  reign  of  humilitj. 
E^'en  {general  IVilkimon,  who,  one  «ould  suppose,  would  be  trent- 
biingly  alive  to  his  <ountr)'s  honour,  and  (^  proud  o/  an  opportunity 
to  stimulate  it  to  spirited  measures — assumes  the  dulcet  note,  and  with 
avidity  despatches  an  express  lo  inform  governor  Claiborne^  not 
that  the  Spanish  t;overiiment  had  restored  the  United  States  to  their 
right  by  treaty  ;  but  truly  ''  that  the  government  has  given  permission 
for  the  deposit  of  all  kinds  of  provisions  in  New  Orleans  on  paying 
six  per  cent  duty  !  !  .'"  And  thi6  information,  says  the  able  a:id  inde- 
futigable  editor  of  the  Eiening  Post,  is  introduced  by  the  words,  the 
port  of  New-Orleans  open,  in  lar»c  capitals,  by  way  of  exultation  at 
this  joyous  event.     Boston  Centinel,  April  13,  18U3. 

Communication, 

*'  The  president  of  the  United  States  in  his  late  letters  to  the  exe- 
cutives of  the  individual  Stales,  on  the  8ubj<-cl  of  the  organization  of 
the  miHtia — speaking  of  the  .Spanish  conduct  at  New  Orleans,  bays— 
*•  Rights  the  most  essential  to  our  welfare  hrve  been  vinlaledy  and  an  in/iat- 
Hon  of  treaty  committed  without  colour  or  pretext.  This  beinu  the 
ackuowled(;ed  state  of  things,  let  the  world  judge,  j*  whether  the 
nmtional  honour  will  be  more  justly  vindicated^  and  riola'ed  tights  re- 
dressed by  the  mawkish  appeal  winch  h:\B  been  made  to  Spanish  fa.tli 
nnd  jnstice,  and  French  ^«?nero,vi7y  and  inanagement,  by  the  degra- 
dint;  solicitation  for  pnrchised  justice,  or  the  disgraceful  proffer  uf  a 
bribe— or  whether  .  /"  these  end*  tcoild  not  more  readily  be  obtained  hy 
the  execution  of  the  minly  and  npiriied  measures  recom'Htnded  by  the  eh- 
quence  of  Morris,  .,«?/  ihp  patriotism  and  sound  understanding  qf  Ross  aii4 
the  otUet /ederalisti  e«  a>n^re«— p'»'«t»i'tv  will  jndi'^e''' 

.  ,  Boston  Centinei,  April  13,  (8or). 


THE    OLIVE    BUANCJir. 


22Si 


m  an  liodi ., 
nil  icroIm- 
n  democrals 
Mr,  Rn»s 
uld  not  offer 
,  The  g!il- 
te  a»oa  »0- 
I  that  pven- 
ingfl  mielit 
Lermineil  in 
n  CeulincI, 


'.ek  and  lowlj 
ards   Si>.ini, 
lu"  pioiK'ers 
ROM  TIlEUl 
catch  at  cvi'. 
I  of  humtliij. 
ilil  be  trciu- 
in  opportunity 
lie,  and  with 
laiborney    not 
tatei  to  their 
ircn  permission 
lis  on  pajiing 
ble  tt:i(l  inile- 
le  words,  the 
exuUalion  at 


rs  to  tlie  f xe- 
t^aiitzntion  of 
eniis,  says— 
i«d  an  in/'flf- 
is  beini!  the 
whether  the 
led  lights  re- 
S))iinish  fa  til 
th**  degra- 
profft'r  of  a 
he  obtained  hj/ 
led  l)u  I'le  elo- 
a  of  Ros»  ao* 

ll  13,   1803. 


>y 


"  Jl'hile  tee  deplore  the  weakness  and  puslUdniniUy  of  our  government, 
tie  sincerely  congraliilale  ourwtslern  Inethren  on  the  l".ivor)il)le  ohaop*'  in 
llicir  hiluatioii  :  and  firvi  ntly  piiiy  foi  its  Un\»  tonlinnanre  :  how 
i';u'  wc  lUHv  .■itiribulc  thia  «  hrtugi-  lo  t^'j'  the  spirited  conduct  of  the  fd- 
era' iiienil).':rs  ffcnngress,  vnn^wX  i^i  |)ri's«'iil  l)e  fully  jisr«Mlain«'(l.  We 
liiii  im  htsil.tlion,  hovvcicr,  in  helicviny;  tliat  tt  lias  ai  hast  persiiad- 
d!,  if  not  ciitirtly    originated  these    nicasiircs."     Cent iiiel,  . April   'J7, 

)8U3. 

"Since  the  adoption  of  i  he  federal  constitution,  no  snbject  has 
more  foieihly  ;'.tt\cted  the  feeliiifts  of  the  citizens  of  the  UniliJ  Ftates, 
IIkim  the  *' ocr/Msion"  of  I  lie  port  of  New  Orleans  by  the  Spanish  (or 
Fitiicli)  Koveniment.  It  in  n  snhjecl  to  "hich  the  attention  of  ihe 
icMtltT  cannot  loo  firqiUMitly  he  called.  The  president  of  the  United 
St.ites  has  nol  hegjiated  nliicially  lo  declare,  that  hy  thiK  measure 
"  rights  the  most  estenttal  lo  the  welfare  ff  the  American  people  have  been 
liolatedy  and  an  infmclion  of  the  treatij  committed  without  colour  or  pre- 
text ."  t  •«  spirit  of  that  people  has  lieen  alive  lo  the  injury— and 
was  ready  to  make  any  SBcrifnelo  redress  the  wronij  : — Uui  because 
the  federalists  tn  congressfelt  the  full  glow  of  this  spirit  ;  and  took  the  lead 
in  proposing  the  necessary  measures  to  give  it  efficacy  ;  rather  than  they 
f/iou/(/ dci  ive  any  honoi  f:i>m  Iheir  success  ,tlir  adinniisiration  havioj^ 
ilie  piiuer,  substiluied  ; /"  a  PL'sillan  iMots  NEGori  ATION  .  and 
ilc^radiuf;  entreaty,  for  that  spirit  of  action  which  manly  resentment 
for  violated  rights  nnd  broken  faith,  so  loudly  und  su  justly  called  foi.'" 
Bustuu  Centinel,  June  15,  i8(i3. 

Louisiana  Purchafied. 

"  The  question  will  ever  be,  was  Ihc  mode  of  {jettinjj  the  territory 
llie  hcbt,  the  cheapest,  the  most  honourable  for  our  niMion  ?  Is  the  way 
of  iiegociatini;  cash  in  hand  as  cheap  or  honourable  as  that  Mr  Ross  ?e- 
(omhiendcd  ?  We  could  have  had  ti  for  nothing.''^  CYnliiie),  Julv  2, 
lSii3 

"  All  thiit  we  wanted  on  Ihe  river  Dfissi<!<tippi  was  a  place  of  deposit  : 
Mi»t  our  treaty  with  Spain  gives  It  was  basely  withdrawn,  our  high 
fpiiitpd  rulers  are  asked  to  assert  our  riirhl.  O,  no. — 80,uno  militia 
aie  lo  be  held  ready  to  defend  one  turnips  aiul  feed  ihe  piys  and  cattle. 
lint  to  take  our  right— to  seize  what  treaties  give  and  fraud  withholds  ;  this 
isnnf  their  forte 

"  \  ((real  man  his  bren  heard  lo  say,  that  wnr  in  ony  case  was 
wroii^  :  and  on  the  qiit  siion  hciii^  put  whether  he  would  think  it 
wioiiu  to  aro  lo  war  if  our  (onntiy  vvas  tmaifed  by  a  foreign  army, 
fien ///en  some  olher  way  iniijiit  be  fouiul  "nt  Th.s  is  our  hoiioni's 
kieper,  whom  we  have  elected  in  the  »lran>;e  hopt  tliat  he  will  guard 
it  JK-iier  than  his  own 

"t'ertiinly  lh<  jocohins  do  not  need  a  conqueror  to  make  them 
slare'i  They  are  slaves  in  soul  whom  even  oui  liberty  cannot  raise  ; 
ulives  are  more  fascin  it-'M  wth  a  master's  livery  than  their  own 
r.'liiti  :  vet  I  hey  expect  this6a>e  language  will  make  them  popular." 
Ct    iitiel,  July  9,  1803 

"  An  'idmi'iisi ration  so  feeble  and  despicable,  hy  what  it  can  and 
^^liat  It  caiiix'     do,  would  huve  sunk   under  the  cunipctilion  with 

20 


i 


v 


11 


230 


THE    OLIVE    BUANCII. 


IVanrc  ;  and  a  lioslile  neighbour  on  t\)v  Mimssippi^  wo\xh\  liave  in 
two  years  b(cn  onr  master  Consnoiis  of  tlu:ir  poveiti/  of  spirit  and 
<if  nitaiiK,  such  nn  aduiintslralion  would  hatt  rrsoitiU  io  IIh*  oiiluia- 
ry  txjieditnl  of  tltt- Aoje,  to  i/ield  |nirl  of  tlicir  wealth  lo  »nve  the 
If  maiiider."     Ccniiuel,  July  a),  ibc'J. 

♦♦  Like  tiuc  Spaniels  ivc  art-  tlu'  most  servile  to  those  wh«  7nost  in- 
sult us       Wo  I  tee  I  ve  hark  our  right    as  ntjuat    fav(.nr,  and  pay  tii- 

jMift  for  that  which  the  dtspoiler  could  no  longer  witliho'.d ihe  free 

iiavigaJion  of  ihr  Mississippi  and  a  place  of  deposit  on  its  shore  was 
oui  right:  the  pi  ivai  ion  of  which  a  wroHp,  and  a  fiee  and  enlite  re- 
Ktotalion,  or/l/ciWe  lecovery  ui  \\  should  have  befti  the  remedtf.  True 
IKiiriotiHiii,  tiiank  God,  slill  plows,  si  ill  bi.zes,  like  a  serapli  in  Eug- 
hvid — here  il  smells  of  alien—hut  Great  Bntuin  must  save  the  un- 
«!!/7/Wj§' world  to  save  herself."     Cenfinel,  Aug    13,  18()3 

" 'Ihere  is  no  condition  of  disgrace  granted  Itelow  ours.  \n  the 
lowest  deep  there  is  no  lower  deep  Our  nation  had  Ijetler  not  exist  at 
all  than  exist  by  syffeiance  unU  under  tribute."  L'tntinel,  August  93, 
1903. 


Who  could  poflTibly  fuppofe  that  the  preceding  ex- 
tracts were  taken  from  the  Boflon  Centinel,  owned 
and  edited  by  major  Benjtmin  RufTcl,  who  is  at  prefent 
fo  ardent,  fo  zealous,  fo  benignant  a  "  /ne?icl  0/  peace," 
and  who  is  among  the  prime  lenders  of  thofe  ^^jriends 
of  peace^'  whole  pacific  proceedings  have  nearly  ovc  - 
turned  the  government,  fprcad  bankruptcy  in  every  di- 
reftion,  ruined  thou  lands  and  tens  of  thoufands  of  the 
bcft  citizens  m  the  country,  and  laid  us  pretty  nearly 
proflrate  at  the  tcet  of  a  vindictive  and  powcrkil  eneiny  ? 
The  expenfe  of  war  is  now  with  miijor  Ruflel  one  of  its 
chief  objeftions.  At  that  period,  he  was  fo  heroically 
difpofed  that  he  urged  war  as  "  the  cheapeft  and  moft 
honourable"  mode  of  recovering  our  rights. 

The  caufc  of  complaint  in  1806,  was  much  greater 
than  in  1803.  But  it  bore  no  comparifon  to  the  griev- 
ances in  1812.  In  1806,  befides  the  iawlefs  depreda- 
tion on  our  vcffels  at  fea,  without  notice,  we  were 
interdifted  merely  from  trading  with  the  colonies  ot 
the  French  and  Spaniaids  on  other  terms  than  we  were 
permitted  in  time  of  peace.  How  far  this  was  beneath 
the  grievances  that  led  to  war,  will  appear  in  the  next 
chapter.  •        . 


-*; 


TIIK    OLIVE  BRAN'CII. 


tl(1  liave  in 
f  spmt  and 
lie  oiiliiia- 
o  »avc  the 

h«  jnost  in- 
lud  |iay  ti'i- 
(J — «he  free 
s  slioie  WHS 
(d  eulitp  le- 
icdi/.  True 
iip'ii  in  Evg- 
sare  tUe  un- 

urs.  In  the 
not  exist  at 
August  33, 


:eding  ex- 
i\,    owned 
;  at  prefent 
ioj  peace,'' 
e  ^'friends 
early  ovc- 
I  every  di- 
inds  of  the 
ctty  nearly 
Lil  enemy  ^ 
one  of  its 
heroically 
and  mo  ft 

uch  greater 
the  giiev- 
depreda- 
we  were 
colonies  ot 
an  we  were 
A'as  beneath 
in   the  next 


:1s 


Let  us  fee  how  far  Mr.  RufTel  was  confident  on  tliis 
point. 

From  Washington.)  January  22,  180(5. 

"  Fear,  pnjmlicc  or  some  otlicr  dastardly  [ii'ii-.ciple,  is  cnnlinunlly 
crossi'ig  the  piuh  of  our  iiik-rs  ;  anil  the  loud  calls  of  our  eountrv,  its 
coinnitTce,  ami  spoiled  inurchaiita,  for  energetic  measures,  is  uiilitard, 
or  (iisregitnleil.  Jlif fears  are,  that  the  President's  mesmges  -mUIoiiIii 
be  supported  I'll  rjiudif  defmles,  or  pen  and  ink  reports." 

'*Mr.  Jiundol/di,  I  am  told,  h:is  very  murh  injured  Iiis  liealtli,  liy 
the  exertions  he  is  s:iid  here  to  have  Uk  ile  dui  in{?  the  time  tlie  liouyu 
wiis  in  conclave — lie  has  not  attended  the  house  tor  seveial  dnys,  and 
i?  sick.  From  one  quarter  or  another,  tite  proceedings  of  the  hunsf, 
when  in  secret  session,  are  leaki'ig  out.  My  eiKpiiries  lead  me  lo  he- 
lieve,  that  in  tlie  spirited  mesisures  which  liandolp'i  proj)o«ed  for  sup- 
porting the  president's  co;.fiiIential  message,  he  was  joined  hy  everii 
federalist  in  the  liouse  ;  by  a  m;ijorit\  of  the  Vir^nnia  representation 
and  some  others  ;  but  that  he  was  in  the  iniiiorilij  :  and  further  :  that 
lie  was  opposed  by  all  the  New  liiigland  democrats  tu  a  man  !  !"'  Bos- 
ton Centinel,  Jauuary,  1806. 

In  1807,  the  caufc  of  complaint  was   ftill  lefs  fubflan- 
tial  than  in  eitlicr  of  the  other  inltances. 

1  muft  be  pardoned  tor  declaring  that  any  man  who 
was  a  partifan  of  war  in  the  above  cafes,  and  reprobates 
the  prefent  war  as  unjiill  and  unncccfTary,  betrays  a  mofl 
awful  degree  of  inconfiflency.  And  yet  it  is  an  indif- 
pntable  tatl  that  the  mod  violent,  the  moft  clamorous, 
the  inoft  Jacobinical,  and  the  moll  feditious,  among  the 
prefent  ""  fnendi  of  peace"  were  among  the  moll  llren- 
uous  advocates  for,  and  "  friends  of  war"  on  the  for- 
mer occafions. 

The  Bollon  Centinel  has,  fince  the  declaration  of 
hortilities,  regarded  war  as  the  moft  frightlnl  of  all 
poHTible  evils.  But  this  was  not  always  its  view  of  the 
iuhjetl.  Within  a  fortnight  alter  laying  tiie  embargo, 
that  meafure  was  pronounced  more  formidable  than  war 
itlelf.         ■  '  / 

"  The  embargo,  which  the  government  has  just  laid,  is  of  a  new  and 
alurniiiig  nature.  Q*  W'^"'*-  ^reat  as  the  evil  is.  has  less  terror,  ami 
-.mil produce  less  mtserif  than  an  embargo  on  such  principles."  Bostou 
i'cntiuel,  January  C,  U08. 


11 

m 

'y 

m 

1^ 

(1 

i 

<s 

H 

!iF'B 

«^H'i 

u 

'^1 

mH 

■•■*  H 

1m,  vi 

I 

R-'/i 

fl 

if '  *' 

n 

tM 

14  ^    ' 

1 

-    »(   '- 

) 


\-'i'r- 


'# 


^   . 


-JO   1 


THE    OLIVE    BRANCN. 

CilAP.  XXIX. 

Enqituy  into  the  justice  of  the  ivar.  Ordeya  in  Councii. 
i^t}yngl/  reprobated  h,  .Messrs.  Lloi/d,  llayard,  and 
Otis.  British  depredations.  Trade' with  ao,()00,oou 
of  the  inhabitants  if  Enrnp^'  cut  /jf. 

We  have  fecn,  page  224,  t!ui  tiie  fenate  of  the  fldtc 
ot  MafTdchufctts  has  couimittL-d  itielf  by  a  broad  and 
Iweeping  declaration,  that  the  prefcnt  war  was  '\foundcd 
in  falfdiood.'"  There  is  no  allowance  tor  human  niiper- 
iectioa — tor  error  in  judgment — tor  difference  in 
©pinion.  The  accufation  is  preferred  in  the  llrongell 
form  which  our  language  admits. 

It  the  charge  be  true,  the  prefident  who  recommend- 
ed war,  and  the  legiflature  of  the  United  States  which 
declared  it,  have  betrayed  their  trut>,  and  are  bafe,  aban- 
doned, and  wicked.  If  the  charge  be  falfe,  the  fenate 
ot  Maflachufetts  are  bafe,  abandoned,  and  wicked. — 
There  is  no  alternative.  One  or  other  defcription  01 
perfons  mutl  fink  in  the  eflimation  of  cotemporarics  and 
pollerity. 

The  condiiQ  of  Great-Britain  to  this  country  for  a 
number  ot  years,  has  been  a  conftant  feries  of  infult,  ag- 
greffion,  and  depredation.  Our  liarbours  liad  been  in- 
lulted  and  outraged — our  commerce  had  been  mo  ft  wan- 
tonly fpoliated — our  citizens  had  been  enflaved,  fcourg- 
ed,  aiid  flausjhtered,  fighting  the  battles  of  thofe  who  held 
them  in  cruel  bondage.  We  had,  in  a  word,  experienc- 
ed numberlefs  and  moft  wanton  irjiuies  and  outrancs  ot 
various  kinds.  But  the  two  prominent  caufes  ot  the  war, 
affigncd  by  the  Prefident  in  that  meffage  which  recom- 
mended, and  by  the  committee  in  the  report  which  con- 
tained, a  declaration  of  war,  were  impreffment  and  tin 
orders  in  council.  I  fliall  proceed  to  the  examination  ot 
both  topics.  But  1  prevloully  quo'.e  the  words  ot  tin.' 
mefTage  and  of  the  report.  On  the  fubjeft  of  imprell- 
ment,  the  Prefident  ftiites, 

"  TliC  practice  is  so  far  IVoin  afTectlng  Hi-it'iHli  subjects  alone,  tliit,  Dii- 
iilti'  the  pretext  ol'  Ei::'.ri  iiiiig  lor  thtsCj  thou'jiitids  ol  Araeiicau  cllivoiii, 


THE    OMVE    BRANCH. 


2iii 


under  tlic  safeguard  of  public  law,  and  their  national  flapf,  lave  been 
torn  IVoni  their  coimtrj  and  from  tvcry  thing  dear  to  theiu;  htve  been 
flr«s:c;ed  on  board  sliips  of  war  of  a  foreign  nwtion  ;  and  cxpose'l,  uinlei' 
ihe  sevirities  of  their  (liscipline,  to  be  exilerl  to  the  most  distant  and 
(Icailly  clinics  ;  to  risk  their  livis  in  the  battUs  of  their  opjMv  ssors,  and 
(o  be  he  tntiancholy  instriiments  of  tukiriij  away  those  of  iheir  owit 
brethren." 

And  the  committee, 


"  We  M'ill  now  proceed  to  other  wrongs  which  have  been  more  se- 
verely felt  Among  these  is  the  itnpressnient  of  our  seamen,  a  praetico 
which  has  been  UMce:isin?;Iy  mainl:une(i  by  Great  IJritain  in  the  wars  to 
which  she  has  been  a  party  since  our  ri  volution.  Your  cominiitee  can- 
not convey  mi  ad«  quate  terms  the  deep  sense  which  they  entcrtnin  of 
tlic  injustice  and  oppression  of  this  proeceiling.  Umkr  »iie  pretext  m" 
iin|ires8ing  IJrilish  seamen,  our  fellow  citizens  are  seized  in  British 
ports  on  the  high  seas,  and  in  every  other  quarter  to  which  the  British 
power  extends  ;  are  taken  on  board  Hiitish  men  of  war,  and  compelled 
10  stMve  there  »s  British  snhjctts.  In  this  mode  our  citizens  are  w.ii;-. 
loiily  siiatclied  from  their  country  rnd  their  families,  deprived  of  their 
liberty,  and  doomed  to  an  ignonnniuus  and  slavisli  bomhige,  I'-iinpelled 
to  ti^iit  the  liattles  of  a  foreigti  couniry,  ami  often  to  perish  in  tfiom. 
Our  flag  has  given  them  no  [iroteclion  ;  it  has  been  unceasingly  violated, 
?ii(l  our  vessels  exposed  to  danger  by  the  loss  of  the  men  takcii  liii  i 
them.  Your  committee  need  not  remark  that  while  the  j>rae!ice  is  ti:i- 
tiiiued,  it  is  impossible  for  the  Unitid  States  to  consider  themselves  nn 
iiulepcndent  nation  Every  new  case  is  a  new  pi  oof  of  their  degriida- 
tion  Its  coMlinuance  is  the  more  Uiijiist.fiable  because  the  Uiiilcd 
States  have  repeatedly  proposed  to  the  Biitisli  government  an  arrange* 
mcnt  which  wotUd  secui-e  to  it  the  control  of  its  own  people.  An  ex- 
emption of  the  Citizens  of  the  United  States  from  ti>is  degrading  op- 
pression and  their  flig  from  violation,  is  all  that  they  base  souglit." 

And  on  the  orders   in  council,  the  prefident  obfcrvc.', 

•*  Under  pre  tended  blockades,  without  the  presence  of  art  adequate 
force,  and  sometimes  without  the  practicability  of  applying  one,  oiu" 
<(jiiiini  rce  has  been  plundered  in  every  sea  ;  tlie  great  staples  of  our 
coiiMtry  have  been  cut  off  from  their  legitimate  markets  ;  and  a  ile- 
stiiielivc  blow  aimed  at  our  agricultural  and  raariiime  interests.  In 
iiKgiavation  of  these  predatory  measures,  they  have  been  considered 
Hs  in  force  from  the  date  of  their  notification  ;  a  retrospective  cfteet: 
being  thus  added,  as  has  been  lone  in  other  impr.rtant  cases,  to  the 
ual.iw fulness  of  the  course  pursued.  And  to  render  the  outrage  the 
more  signal,  these  mock  blockad*  s  have  been  reiferattd  and  enforerd  in 
t!ie  luce  of  official  commniucations  from  the  British  government,  de- 
tlning.  .ns  the  true  definition  of  «  legal  blockade,  *'  that  particular  jort^ 
iiiiist  be  actuidly  invested  ;  and  previous  warning  giv;.u  to  vessels  bon-id 
to  them,  not  in  eclair. 

20*  :      .  1.::  ^ 


i 


'V^i 


I 


I 


>i? 


23  h 


TIIK    OLIVE  IJHAXUfl. 


"  Not  cntitenl  witli  tliose  occHsinnal  rxpcdiciils  for  liij  Uig  wastv' 
one  neutral  traile,  ilic  c.il)itiet  of  (iicat  IJiita'iii  resorlcil,  at  length, 
tu  tlie  sweepiii.a;  ayslcm  (W  l)lr)ckail.H,  iiiult;r  the  ii.iitio  of  onlirs  in' 
cminci?,  wliicli  Uhh  been  tiioulili;!  mul  nrinaged,  as  iuU^\tt  best  i-iiit  iis 
poiiticiil  views,  its  couiinercinl  jealousies,  or  llie  a>i(lil)-  ol'  Uriilhti 
«»'uisei'8."  ;    f.i    .     .7 

AmvI  the  coiiiKihtce  flatvcs, 

Wy  llie  OKltrsin  ponncll  of  tlie  lltli  of  N'ovcmhcr,  IROr, 
"rir.-  i'.i'.iisli  ;j;  .vi.riii.iciil  (li  i-l.tr.  (I  direct  atid  |iOhiiive  war  ac;:;iiist 
(he  Uiiiud  ">l.t8.  Tlie  doiiiinioii  ol"  tlic  (jceaii  was  c(im])U'teIy 
usuriied  '  y  it,  all  cniumei  ce  iWi  hidden,  and  t  veiv  il:i}!;  driven  tVoiii  it 
or  siihj' (iU'd  to  c.i'.itni'i;  aid  toiidi  m  i.'ition,  winch  tiid  not  snhstiMj 
the  |)o;i(y  ol'  tl>u  Iliitihh  jr'.vc;  nnu'ul  by  ptvin;;  it  a  tribute  :tiid  8;iil- 
\\\i'  iiu-tr  its  sanction  I'roni  tliis  jx  r,(id  tlic  United  States  h'lvc 
incnrrel  the  ln'rjvi«!st  losses  and  most  niottdyinj;  Imniiliatiois.  'I  h,  v 
hav  borne  tliu  cahmiities  el  war  without  rctuilin^  them  on  its  ici- 
thofs." 


i.  I . 


'*! 


I  (hall  (JifcLif;;  eacli  itjin  fcparatcly. 


1.   Orders  in  Council, 


ic 


To  repel  the  charire  of  the  war  being  *^  founded  i'l 
f'aff'kood,"  fu  far  as  refpcds  this  item,  it  would  he  fufti- 
cient  to  ettablilh  their  exigence  on  the  day  war  was 
declared. — This  is  obvious.  For  it  thev  exirted,  tiuii 
the  war  could  not  be  '■\foiuuicd  in  fLilfthoad.''  But  I 
Ihall  not  refl  fatisfied  with   this  alone. 

War  was  declared  at  Wairiington  on  the  loth  oC 
June  i8i2.  The  repeal,  as  it  i.'>  called,  oftheordeis  in 
council,  took  place  on  the  23d  of  t!\at  month  in  London. 
It  is  clear,  therefore,  that  the  charge  of  '■'"Jaljehcod' 
iicre  is  imfounded. 

By  an  official  ftatement  prefented  to  congrefs  by  the 
fecretary  of  ftate  on  tlie  6th  of  July  1812,  it  appears 
that  the  Britilh  captures,  prior  to  the  orders  in  council, 
were  528,  and  fublequeiit  thereto  389. 

It  is  difficult  for  me  to  form  an  eftimate  ot  the 
amount  of  theie  vefTels.  I  am  no  merchant,  and  have 
no  adequate  data  to  guide  me.  I  have  enquired  ol  mer- 
caritile  charafters,  and  have  been  told,  thdt  confulei- 
ing  the  great  value  of  the  cottons,  &c.  of  the  outwaH 


THE    OLIVE    BU\NOI£. 


53  J 


e;argoes  to  France,  and  the  filks,  brdiidies,  &c.  of  tlie 
honeward  cargoes,  :^o  or  40,600  dollars  would  b'?  a 
fair  edimate.  But  1  will  fupijoit'  2^,000  d(;llars  lor  vel- 
lel  and  cargo,  which,  1  prcluinc  is  not  extravagant.  This 
extends  to  the  enormous  amount  oi 

13,200,000  dollars, 
depredated  previous  to  the  orders  in  council  ;  and 
.  9,725,000  dollars  - 

durin;''  tb"  \xi(lence  of  thofc  orders;  (or  the  latter  ot 
whir     -hfei.     'as  not  the  lead  c  . '(,  e  of  rcdrefs. 

And  it  IS  not  the  fuin  ot  wliich  our  citizens  were 
despoiled,  that  by  any  njean  coi.nitutes  the  whole  of 
the  grievance.  The  enormous  limitation  and  relhic- 
tions  of  the  trade  ot  a  fovereign  and  independejit  nation 
was  at  leait  of  equal  magnitude  in  j)c)int  of  outrage, 
with  the  pecuniary  lofs  ;  for  it  is  a  facred  and  indi{putal)le 
trutl),  that  trom  Nov.  11,  1807,  till  the  day  war  was  de- 
clared, ^  American  fh  pi,  ^  owned  by  /hncncan  mer- 
chanU,  ^  navigated  b\  American  feav.un,  and  (C^  laden 
it-ilh  Arwncan  prod>'dions,  grf*  zvere  liable  to  /eizure  and 
tondemnation  ^  if  bound  to  Frame,  Holland,  or  the 
northern  part  of  Italy.         -    •  :        •  ' 

I  implore  the  reader,  by  all  that  is  candid,  toconfider 
well  this  fmgle  fentence  :  it  is  a  fair  ftatement  of  the 
relative  fituation  of  the  two  coimlries.  {.-T  The  cofnfnocs 
of  the  United  States  with  nearly  one  third  of  the  popula- 
tion of  Europe  was  fubjecl  to  condemnation.  Let  him 
lay  his  hand  on  his  heait,  and  anfwcr  the  queftion,  was 
not  "'iis  adequate  caufe  for  war  ?  Was  not  this  a  greater 
grievance  than  the  fixpenny  tax  on  tea,  which  led  to  the 
American  Revolution  ?  Have  not  n)ore  than  nine  tenth.s 
of  all  the  wars  that  have  ever  exided,  been  declared  tor 
lefs  caufes  ?  iVe  were  forbidden,  by  Great  Britain,  g^T  un- 
der penalty  of  c6nfiication,to  carry  on  trade  zuith  (J:f  ab  vd 
fifty  millions  of  the  inhabitants  of  Europe.  And  yet  we 
are  gravely  told,  the  war  was  "  iounded  in  falfehood  !  !  1" 
Wonderful,  wonderlul  delufion  !  ! 


I 


23  a 


THE    OLIVE    DHANC'H. 


E    < 


(Jrlr  V/  Mrt/  period  Rngland  herfelf  carried  on  with 
France  and  her  dependencies^  under  licenfes,  ^  the  very 
trade  which  jhe  rendered  illey^al  when  carried  on  by  the. 
United  Sidles!  !  !  Add  jeveral  American  vejfds,  hound 
fat  France,  and  taken  by  Britijh  cruizers,  zuere  aHunll\\ 
(Jdl'  without  breakuii)  bulh,  tak>'n  into  French  ports  by  t/ic 
captors,  or  thofe  who  pur  chafed  from  them  !  !  .' 

1  might  here  liiiinifs  this  part  of  my  fubjeft — but 
as  it  is  one  oF  the  moil  important — one  on  wiiicli 
Great  Biitain  and  the  United  States  are  at  iffue  in  the 
face  of  the  world — as  the  chara6fcr  of  tliis  country 
muft  be  materially  afFe6led  by  a  decifion  of  it — and 
further  as  it  is  of  great  importance  to  the  two  parties 
tliat  divide  this  nation,  I  judge  it  advifable  to  enter 
into  it  more  fully. 

The  only  defence  ever  attenipted  of  thefe  outra- 
/Tcous  pioceedings  is  the  principle  of  *'  retaliation.'^ 
This  is  completely  invalidated  by  Mr.  Baring  in 
page  108.  It  is  alfo  unequivocally  abandoned  by  the 
moft  prominent  and  infkiential  leaders  ot  tlie  federal 
party. 

James  Lloyd,  Efq  fenator  of  the  United  States  for 
the  flate  of  MafTachufetts,  a  moft  decided  federaliff, 
a  fteady,  undeviating  oppofer  of  the  adminiftr.ition 
and  of  all  its  meafures,  has  pronounced  fentence  of 
condemnation  in  the  moft  unequivocal  terms  upon  the 
pretence  of  retaliation,  in  a  fpeech  delivered  in  fenate 
on  the  28th  of  Februarv,  1812. 


"  And  li'jto  ia  it  possible,  that  fj"  a  third  .md  neutral  partu  can 
make  itself  n  fntr  uhject  of  retnlintion,  for  measures  ivhich  it 
did  V9t  coiivsel—  -which  it  did  not  approve —  >  tvhich  militate 
sti  ons^!y  with  its  interest —  tvhich  it  is  and  ever  h(is  been  nT.xinmlj/ 
desirous  to  remove —  xvhic'^  it  has  reiisted  by  every  meuiis  in  its 
power,  that  it  thought  expedient  to  ise,  and  of  these  means  the  govern- 
ment  of 'he  neutral  couu try  ought  to  be  the  sole  judge — j^'  which  it  luis 
erldeiiviured  to  get  rid  of  even  at  great  sacr<  fives  ! —  .  how  is  it  pos- 
sible that  a  neutral  country  thus  cmdncting  cuJi  make  itself  a  fa  r  oh- 
ject  'if  reta/'ation  for  measures  wh.ch  it  did  not  orinti.te — whuh  it 
could  vot  prevent  I  and  cannot  coutroul ! — Thtis,  sr,  to  my  view  tlic 
OQ'  ouDi.r.s  m  coocii.  are  wholly  uajusTiFFABi  k,  let  tuem  bb 


'  «g-. «■»..»■■»« 


THE    OLIVE   nitANClM. 


sar 


BOTTOMF.B     (Jjr    eiTKKIl   ON    TUi!    rUINClPLE    OF    UETALIATIOV,   Q^OR 
or  rtK»-l'-PilKSEUVATlO!*.' 

m 

From  Mr  Lloyd's  authority  on  this  topic  I  prcfwme 
tiicic  will  be  no  appeal.  But  I  am  not  confined  to  Mr. 
Lloyd.  Ml.  Bayard,  a  gentleman  of  equal  itandmg,  a 
quondam  lenator  ot  the  United  States  tiom  the  Hate  ot 
Delaware,  now  one  ot  our  commiHioners  at  Ghent, 
alio  a  decided  iederaliit,  pronounced  the  lame  lentencc 
on  them--- 

*'  They  wore  ailnptetl  as  a  mrasiire  of  ictalialion,  tlion^h  iXj"  t/tcy 
mrcr  Uf-.-ieivdl  that  v/iurcic'er  He  huij  .ilwuys  ((iiitiKJeied  tlu-  Berlin 
mill  MiLiii  (ItfiMcs  •XC7'  used  as  u  mere  |Mit<  xi.— 'I'liose  dt-ners  were 
viiiii  und  cini'ty  dciiiiiiriHtioiis  in  icljiioii  lo  Eiislaiid  'I'lie  plain  de- 
*i::;n  of  the  lUltish  ^overnmcnl  wai  j^  to  deprive  France  of  the  lienejlls  of 
vxicrnul  commerce^  Xj"  unless  the  profits  of  it  tcete  divided  with  herself. 
i^j"  This  was  fully  proved  by  the  license  trade  X/"  iirtlain  carries  on  the 
Lifij  trade  she  denies  to  neuirnls  and  '(^j"  hf.ln'j  tn^rossed  the  nholc  to  her- 
^f-/>  .i3^  she  excludes  neutrals  frovi  a  part iciput ion 

"•  1  UI1I  aiiioiit;  Ihelast  men  in  ll>e  Btimicwlio  would  jiisiify  or 
dctViid  the  ordns  in  couiiril— (j;;j*  TlitV  Vioi-ATE  thk  Pi  AIN  est 
RIGHTS  OP  THK  NATION  —  Ij"  The  ground  of  lelalialion  icus  uirvtr  vom 
Ihan  a  pretext  f  and  ^  their  plain  obj- ci  is  to  dvpnie  Fravce  of  neutreil 
trade  it  aevvr  was  coiitciided,  nor  dots  Bntiiin  iio«  ••oiiten(l  thai  she 
would  be  jiutififd  by  llse  Uws  or  usages  of  nations  lo  inlt'rdul  onr 
loinimTce  wiili  her  enemy  She  Lj'  covets  her  injustice  ivith  the  cloak 
of  retaliation,  and  insists  that  she  has  a  right  lo  relort  upon  her  ene- 
my lUe  evilf  of  his  own  poliey  — This  is  a  declrine  to  which  I  am  not 
(liywied lo  agree  It  Ih  ukbtructi ve  TO  NEUTRALS  //  ma/ces  ihetit 
the  preii  of  the  belligerents. 

"ir  IS  A  DOCTIllNE  WHICH  WE  rviUST  RESIST." 

But  I  have  one  otlicr  advocate,  at  lead  equally  unex- 
ceptionable. Harrilon  Gray  Otis,  who  at  the  moment  I 
hold  the  pen,  December  261)1,  is  in  fecret  conclave  at 
HaitloTd,  deliberating  on  i^'  rcdrefi  of  p^rkvancc.s,  has 
borne  histellimony  with  equal  dtcifion  on  tliis  fuhjoLt,  in 
a  letter  to  a  friend  in  London,  dated  January  14,  1812, 
republiflied  in  the  Boflon  Centinel,  and  therein  acknow- 
ledged as  authentic. — ■ 

*' You  will  perreivc  hy  the  papers  t);at  our  government  profess 
•  lie  ii.tontion  to  assume  :.  very  uar'iku  nit'tudc  ;  and  that  the  Xj^  ^en- 
liiiient  of  indignation  throuokout   the  country  nt  the  continuation  of  the 


■   ■?  fS-.^.,. 


as 


1JI13   ©LIVE   BHW'CH. 


orilevsin  t'iiintcil(fj'  is  loud  and  universal  riinv  noTfi  pMtTTrs  I  T|,,. 
inotlvt'8  wliith  iiiduip  your  governiiuMit  to  ,  rill  iim.    itikiii  iirc  (jiiilr: 

incompicheiiiitileta  :hc  okht  fkiknuso/  (fveut  /iiitdiuiu  t/iis  cun  :it/,- 
and  (jTj'  tlio  ell'cct  will  bi>  to  ninke  tvii*  hum  ouior*  who  lin  ,-'.'to 
fxprtss  n  wisli  tor  your  succi-ss  and  pro:  pt  iil>  ;  ii  srriii'ni'nt  utif;  crm- 
■mon  tu  our  bat  men,  but  ivhu.Ii  an  aUhcroue  t'j  tliia  fi/Kein  -uiH  tin'uw 
(ind  ciLnCvoi/. 

(!»••••  Q^  The  scriii)uioii«  adlurt  nci*  ot  \  in  c;ib'n»  t  to  ;iii 
evi/ili/  [lunctilio.  will  too  ^)|•obl»l»l^  ttiutf  l/u  whole  (•■jiimri/  ni  ofi/ioi  ii,jji 
ioi/otir  naticn,  and  sever  tbriji  nfrm'miis,  pci  Ik'J)  for  v\ii,inifffe.-.tt.  u'/u<  // 
/line   the  n.'ost   natural  cj^iiity,  Mnd    WKN  wuo  oiuiif  To  rttL  a.vd 

lOVJB   LIKE    UHITUHiiJf," 

Let  us  examine  this  niofl  precious  document.  Mr, 
Otis  ftates  that  (fj*  "  the.  fenhintnt  of  indignation  agatnjl 
the  orders  in  council  was  loud  and  uriiverjal  from  bolli 
porties.''  This  is  a  Ihon/r  declaration  troni  Mr.  Otis. 
The  concurrence  oi  "  both  parties"  who  fo  icldom  agiec 
in  any  thiiii^  is  conclufive.  And  lurely  it  is  fair  to 
infer,  tl\dt  Jvlr.  Otis  hiniu-lf  mull  have  regarded  the 
orders  in  council  as  unjuft,  and  wicked,  and  oppreflive, 
and  piratical,  and  utterly  indefcnfihle,  when  he  cordially 
conteUcs  that  a  continuance  of  them  would  produce 
the  i^^"  effect  to  render  every  man  odious  who  dared  to 
cxprejs  a  uujh  for  the  fuccefs  and  pro/penly"  ot  Gicat 
Britain.  Be  it  ohferved,  that  thefc  fentiments  were  ex- 
prelfed  on  the  14th  January,  1812,  Uim\  which  time,  till 
the  declaration  ot  war,  no  change  had  taken  place  in  the 
orders. 

One  other  ftrong  faft,  and  a  few  ohfervations,  and  I 
fliall  have  done. 

On  the  i8tli  of  Decend)er,  i8c8,  a  vote  was  taken 
in  the  houfe  of  reprefcntalives  on  the  following  relo- 
lution. 


4t 


"  Jiesolved,  Tha'  the  United  States  cannot  without  a  sacrifice  of  their 
vii<;)its,  liotinnr  and  in  icpendence.  submit  to  tlic  bite  edicts  (>t°  Great 
liritHJn  nnd   France. 

"    Ntiil  resolved  m  the    ffirm  tive  as  follows  ;  yeas  118  ;  nays  2; 

•'  Yeas. — Messrs  Alexander,  VV.  Alston,  I..  Alston,  Flacon,  Bnnl, 
Barkir,  Bisse  ,  HlHtklidge,  Hlake,  lilount,  Boyd,  Boyle  Riown, 
Uurwell,  llmlt-r,  Calbnun,  Cantpbell,  Champion,  Chittenden  tiny. 
(  lopton,  (.'dl|)eppi  r,  rults,  D.^venpurt,  Dawson  l)«ant,  .  tsh.i  Uu- 
rtli,  Kliiot,  I'M.  Findhy  Fisk,  Franklin,  tianiner,  C.arni  t,  Gho  sun, 
fioodwiu,   tiray,    Green,    Harris,  lieister,   Helms,   Holland,  Huliue'i 


^i--.  --ejr^  "^ 


li- 


THE   OLIVE    nRANCII. 


^i% 


llfiwftvJ,  Humplircvs,  Ilpley,  J.  C  Jackson,  K.  S.  Jackson,  Jciikini, 
Johnson.  Jonos,  Kelly  Kciiaii,  Key,  Kirkjtatrirk  I.Muibcrl,  Iicwis, 
Llojil,  Love,  M«citn,  Mnrion,  Masters,  M'CrciTy,  tMHnov.  1).  MoMt- 
l^uiuoi-y-  J.  MoMlpoim-iy,  N.  U.  Moore,  T.  Moore,  Jor.  Moitomt,  Jno. 
.Vorrow,  Alose/eif,  ^(inniVircl,  Nelson,  J\''eubuil,  Now  ton,  Niclmliis, 
Pithin,  I'ortir,  Qiiiiin/,  liandulph,  Hca,  l{li«:a,  J.  UichanU,  M  Ilicli- 
Mils  Kussil  Say,  Stn\tr  Sliuw,  i^io;<tl,  Siiult,  Smilie,  J.  K  Smitli, 
,1.  Suii.'h,  SomhunI,  Hiint'onl,  Slcdoifin,  Storor,  St  urges.  \Tuggnrty 
Talnnilge.  I'ayliv,  Tlioinpsoi),  Trip;};,  Trwiip,  Upliari),  Van  Allen, 
l<i«  ('r>rtt(ind:\  Viii>  Mom,  Van  IlVnssi'iatr,  Vfrplamk,  NVhar.oMi 
Whili-liill,  Willmur.  VVilliuins,  A.  Wilson,  N.  Wilson,  Winn— ll«. 
"Nays  — Mcbsis  (lardcnier,  lloge.— 2. 

TIlis  votr.fo  far  as  rcfpects  thofe  gentlemen  In  the  at- 
firmativc,  decides  the  qticflion  on  the  jufticcof  hoftilities, 
Tiiat  war,  it  ever  jiiRiHable,  is  jiiftifiable  to  prevent  "  rt 
fiicnjice  cf  the  rights,  honor,  and  uidepen deuce"  of  a  na- 
tion, cannot  he  doubted.  And  as  we  were  reduced  to 
ihe  ahernativc — war,  or  a  ful^niftion  to  the  ordcis  in 
(ouncil,  which,  according  to  tliofe  gentlemen,  was  ({rg*  a 
facrifice  of  I  he  right  i^  hcnor,  and  independence  of  the 
United  States" — :t  indfputahlv  follows,  that  tlie  wjr  was 
jiift  and  proper  in  the  opinion  of  the  above  m-j  )rity.  It 
is  impoflible  to  withftind  this  inference. 

Here  I  make  a  folemn  paufc.  Thefc  orders  in  coun- 
cil were,  as  we  have  feen,  one  of  the  moft  prominent 
grounds  of  war.  I  liavc  eflablilhed  their  exiftence  and 
their  flagitious  injiiftice  at  the  time  of  that  declaration. 
Yet  the  fenate  of  MafTachufetts  has  declared  ilvdf  the 
j  war  was  founded  in  falfehood."' 

When  I  flated  the  enonnous  iranfit  duty  the  Britifh 
miniflry  attempted  to  co!le6l  for  ^  pe.rmifjion  to  trade 
with  France,  I  mentioned,  that  to  fuch  an  extravagant 
Iwigth  was  their  violation  ot  our  neutral  rights  and  of 
our  independent  fovercigntv  carried,  that,  wonderlul  to 
tell,  they  afFetled  to  conhder  the  permiffion  to  trade  on 
thefe  terms  as  a  fpecial  favour.  Left  the  reader  might 
doubt  or  difbelieve  this  aftonilhing,  this  monftrous,  this 
unparalleled  fa6l,  I  give  him  the  moll;  unequivocal  autho- 
rltv — the  celebrated  Francis  James  Jackfon.  This  gen- 
tleman, in  a  letter  to  the  fecretary  of  Hate,  dated  OSl.  ii, 
iBog,  exprefsly  ftates —  ,, 

"33*  The  option  given  to  neutrals  QTj"  to  trade  with  the  ettemittof 


\. 


"-*\'t 


2^0 


THE  OLIVE    DHANCIl. 


iiM 


firedt  livitnin  (Xj"  thvourrh  Uritiih  pnrtx,  jj-  (^X  PAYMENT  OF  A 
'rU\N>II  DlJTY,  M  «  (ir  ij;iiially  «U'ViHi'>l  nnil  inliiiiiii  (I  (Tj'  »«  a 
Ml  rHi A  rU)N  ot  wliat  is  ciTlninlv  mi>re  loirecl,  but  iiion  lijrid  in 
pi'iiiii|)l< —  thr  total  and  utK/imliJled  interdiction  of  all  trade  -uut/t 
the  enemy  !  !  ! 

No  man  wlio  has  the  Km  ft  regard  to  his  charuHrr 
— who  is  not  drprivcd  hy  hii^Hon  aiul  party  violvmc  ol 
the  Mioial  (cnlc — aftcr-u  perulal  ot  the  picccchni;  ohfor- 
Vcitions  and  ta8,s,  cm  he  (it :  to  w  luit  Icntcncc  to  j)r(). 
nouncc*  on  the  accufation,  that  "  the  war  was  Joundtd  in 
iaijehood." 

CHAP.  XXX. 

Eufinh'ij  hifn  fhfi  just  ire  of  the  war  cnnt'iniipd.  Jl  cIp/iv. 
e.vfilii'it  and  wiansncrable  dcftvcp  of  i7,  on  the  protniil 
vf  iiiipvcsameut  alone,  indepeudi'nt  of  all  the  oilier  /jr/.i"- 
ances,  hi/  the  uuc.vri'jifionnble  teslimuny  of  the  hon.  Jumes 
Lloyd f  Ki^q.  of  tMusHachuaeiia. 

Impressment. 

Of  the  enormity  of  this  hoiriblc  grievance,  wliicli 
(J^  cries  to  heaven  for  vengeance,  I  liave  given  fuc!i 
copious  drtails  in  chapters  20,  21,  22,  that  I  need  not 
enter  deeply  into  it  liere. 

Tliat  It  was  ample  and  adequate  rauTc  of  war,  no 
man  can  deny,  who  reads  the  letter  from  commodore 
Rodiiers — the  certificate  of  lieutenant  Hoffman,  p  ii^c 
106.  and  the  extract  fiom  the  logbook  of  the  O'ler. 
rieie,  wlierehy  it  is  indifputably  eftablifhed  that  there 
weie  no  lefs  tli.m  the  enormous  number  of  torty-eight 
American  imprcfTed  Teamen  on  boaid  four  Biililli 
veflels. 

I  muft  once  rnore  beg  leave  to  introduce  to  the  reader, 
James  Lloyd,  Efq.  When  I  fhelter  mvfelf  under  fu<h 
auth'Mity  as  MefTrs.  Otis,  Pickering,  Lloyd,  &c.  1  deem 
myfelt  impregnable. 

Extract  from  the  hon.  James  Lloyd's  letter  to  the  hon.  <}fr. 

Perkins. 

*'  If  •'  rf'it  f'vitain  ly^-  did  claim  nnil  cxcicisc  the  vifjlit  fo  imprcn 
into  her  service  1  he  veal,  bonafde,  native  citizens  of  the  Unittd  Stateh 


THE    «MVE   nnANKIf. 


2ii 


le  hull,  James 


an  ihterminable  rear  nith  Aer,  or  tuilh  all  Ifif  nution.1  of  the  rmth  ((fit 
louldnot  be  o./iuruifc  prevenlnlj  vui]ht  lia  uliKv  ju$t,  nevetsur-f,  umlcom- 
viendable,  'I'hf  ocfuii,  for  llie  iisu  uf  tlu>(;ital  iMtiiily  ot  iiiuiikiiul, 
klioulil  own  no  cliHrleird  iiiivilcgia.  In  a  linic  ol  nt'iilrnlily,  wlnlu 
aliHlainiii^  fruui  injniy  to  ollirih,  it  ulionUI  ii«' u«  (V«'i' as  air,  lu  nil 
uho  iiiiviKulC  It,  un«l  liif  0^'  IMTRKSbMI' NT  (If  A  N  ATI  V  K  AM»  lll< 
r.AN  L'lTIXKN,  (^' innofcut  qf  crime,  ami  (Jj*  owing  etsf where  no  prt' 
iKirti  or  fuirnmouiit  <ilhifHi*tw,  qJt  ""'^  fitosccuttng  u  inw/vt  C(ninnticc, 
0.)  i»  •«  K'irl  qf  hut  own  eountrv,  is,  ax  it  roptcts  the  indmitiKil,  umL 
(ly  at  it  tf{>in  (it  nil  inriniKi'iniiit  of  rittlilM,  (^  j"  a.i  ^'mft  a  iioIhIidh  ui 
1 1' he  iveu'  amsltU^  turn  and  trampnUnl  iutit  sldvtry  j'lotn  Im  yatetnat 
in<if,  or  tlomtslic  altar '*     liukton  Ccnliiiil,   Mttrtli  (J,   leilU. 

The  mind  jrlows  with  anitnalion  on  rcatUinr  tbcfc  no- 
ble, tilde  dignified,  ihefe  niaiilv  fentiments,  woithy  ot 
the  moll  illiillrious  ot  the  heroes  ol  tlie  revolution! 
Wliat  a  won'iertul  contrafl  between  them  and  tnc  j^rovel- 
irigrepoit  of  the  committee  of  the  legiilatiire  of  Maf- 
facliufetts  !  This  fingle  extract  is  fidHcicnt  to  j  illily 
tlic  war,  were  there  no  other  grouin.'  thaa  imprellment 
alone. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  French  rcvol  ♦ionary 
war  till  the  declaration  ot  hoflilities  took,  placi  ,  jiii  vef- 
fels  were  arretted  wherever  met  with  h  •  Bntifli  veirel/ii 
of  war — the  crews  overhauled — the  lititilli  capt'tins 
feized  whom  they  plcafed,  and  entlaved  them  i\t  their 
diicietion — as  thev  were,  in  the  ftiong  hmgu  go  ot  Cob- 
bet-"  ACCUSERS,  WITNESSES,  JUDGES.  AND 
CAPTORS." 

England  would  have  made  war  agaiiift  all  the  nations 
of  Europe  in  fucceflion,  had  they  dared  to  imprefs 
her  feamen.  And  what  riglit  had  the  to  cl  lim  a  reli- 
gions veneration  tor  her  flag,  when  the  was  in  tlie  daily 
prri6tice  of  violating  ours  in  the  giotreft  manner  ? 

I  requeft  the  reader's  attc  'Hon  to  this  ful^jefcl;.  Mr. 
Lloyd  unites  "  ihe  claim  ay  J  .ha  excra/ey  The  for- 
mer is  ot  no  importance  in  itfelf,  and  does  not  atT'eft 
the  quetlion.  Suppofe  England  "  claims  a  right''  to 
all  our  vetTels — to  our  territory — to  our  perfons — it  is 
no  caufe  of  war.  Eut  the  moment  fhe  attempts  "  to  ex- 
trcift  the  right"  to  I'eize  any  of  them,  refiflancc  becomes 
a  duty. 

21 


^/ 


ii-t2 


THE    OLIVE    BUA.NCJi. 


'f, 


It  thus  appears,  lliat  the  exprefTion  "claim"  is  iiier.': 
vcrbiairc.  1  do  by  ik)  means  !)elieve  it  was  employed 
to  delude  the  reader.     But  I  do  aver  that  I'uch  is  its  efTcft. 

(f^^  "  The  exercifc"  then  by  "  Gieat  Bjitain  of  the 
jight  to  imprefs  into  her  ferviec  (}::lr  the  real  bona  fide 
native  citizens  of  the  United  Sti.tes  ^  would,  by  the 
explicit  declaration  of  James  Lloyd,  juftily  an  intermi- 
liable  war  with  her." 

The  queftion,  reader,  is  reduced  within  a  narrow 
rompafs.  It  only  remains  to  be  afccitaincd  whether 
"  Ihe  exercifed"  this  cxeciable  "  right  of  impiell'ment" 
of  "  real  bona  fide  citizens"  or  not.  If  Ihe  did,  the  war, 
yccording  to  Mr.  Lloyd,  is  juft.  To  prove  the  hit  he- 
•  yondthe  pofiibility  of  doubt,  I  call  in  pretty  high  autlio- 
iltv.  I  will  give  up  for  a  moment  my  own  calculation 
«)t  66co — the  fecretary's  Ilatement  of  6-00 — I  give  up 
lord  Calllereagh's  admiflion  ot  1600.*  I  will  rely  upon 
tlie  committee  of  the  legiflature  of  Malfachuletts  and  up- 
on the  levercnd  Mr.  Taggart,  member  ot  congrefs  from 
that  flate. 

Ttie  latter  admits  tljere  were  three  hundred  imprefTed 
American  leamen  on  board  the  Britifh  navy  on  the  decla- 
ration of  war.  And  a  committee  of  the  houf'e  of  repre- 
lentatives  of  Mairachufetts,  f^  "  as  far  as  their  engui- 
■lies  went'' J  admit  that  there  were  eleven  imprelled  natives 
ot  the  flate  on  board  that  navy. 

I  proceed  logically.  As  "  the  excrcife  of  the  right" 
of  imprefling  the  ^^  **  real  bona  fide  native  citizens  ot 
the  United  States  into  the  fervice  of  Great  Britain,  would 
juftil'y  an  ^  interminable  war  zvith  her  or  all  the  ftafions 
of  the  world^' — and  as  we  have  clearly  eflabliftied  that 
there  were  (j:^"  at  all  events  311  native  citizens  ot  the 
United  States  fo  imprefTed — it  follows  that  Mr.  Lkn'd 
muft  jujlify  the  prefent  war — and  will  not  dare  to  afleit 
that  it  is  '•'■founded  in  falfehood.'' 

Before  I  clofe  the  fubjcrt,  1  beg  leave  to  introduce 
higher  pcrfonages  on  the  Itage. 

*  Lord  Csstlereagh  in  the  British  parliament,  1  believe,  admlULH'. 
this  numUcr.  , 


*  I 


THE   OLIVE  BRANCH. 


2*3 


The  Prince  Regent  has,  as  I  have  (lateil,  publicly  de- 
clared that  "  it  is  known  to  the  world  that  this  country 
[Great  Britain]  was  not  the  aggrcHor  in  this  war." 

And  the  lords  ot  the  admiralty,  in  their  proclamation, 
dated  April  1814,  (lee  page  46,)  cxprefs  then"  regret  on 
the  fubjefcl  ot  "  tlie  unprovoked  ag}n''JJion  of  the  Ainetu 
can  government  in  declaring  war  after  all  the  caufes  of  its 
crigmal complaint  had  been  removed." 

To  enter  the  lifts  againil  fuch  formidable  antagoniOs, 
is  really  prefumptuous  and  daring.  But  1  venture  to  al- 
fert,  and  hope  I  have  proved,  that  the  war  was  ruit 
"  founded  in  lallehood  ;"---that  Great  Britain  was  notori- 
oiiily  "  the  aggreflbr  ;"  and  that  none  ot  "  th.e  origin.il 
caufes  of  complaint  had  been  rcmoveil"  previous  to  the 
declaration  of  war. 

CHAP.   XXXT. 

Characler  of  merchants  b)j  Edmund  Burkp.  lUlhorid  and 
nnfouHflfd.  Merchants  «s  various  hi  character  as  other 
classiis  of  men.  Jlinerican  ni'rckants  shrewd  and  intelli- 
gent. Jlost  lamentably  blinded  b/f  faction  to  their  dearest 
interests.  Exarnide  of  England  worthy  of  imitation. 
Struggles  between  ins  and  outs.  All  unite  against  com- 
mon enemy.  American  factions  more  di-U'icrious  than 
those  in  England. 

Edmund  Burke*  has  left  on  record  a  moft  unfavoura- 
ble charafter  of  merchants,  which  has  been  a  thoufand 
times  quoted  to  their  difparagement.  He  has,  if  my  me- 
mory do  not  deceive  me,  alFerted  that  tliey  have  no  na- 
tional attachments  or  patriolifm-.-that  their  ledger  is  tlieir 
Bible— and  gold  their  God. 

This  characler  is  uuj'ift  and  illiberal,  like  all  other 
fu'ceplng  denunciations  ot  entire  clafies.  Tiic  merchants 
arc  as  various  in  their  charaflers  as  auv  other  defcriptioii 
ot  men.  There  are  among  them  numbers  of  pci  fous  of 
he  higheft  refpe61:ability-"gieai  patriotifni---a  high  fcnfc 

*  In  the  first  etlilion  of  this  wnrk,  I  erroneously  ascribui!  these  scnli- 
M?uts  to  A<lam  Siuilii, 


3U 


THE    OLIVE    BnANClI. 


W. 


of  honour— great  liberality—and  poffeningall  the  otlicp 
virtues  that  can  adorn  the  human  charafcler.  There  are 
likewife  others  as  bafe  and  vile  as  the  former  are  ex- 
cellent. -  -. 

There  is  nothing  in  mercantile  affairs,  or  commercp, 
that  has  a  tendency  to  deteriorate  thofe  who  follow  the 
prot'eflion.  It  is  hard  to  conceive  how  it  Ihould  be 
othcrwife.  The  large  fcale  on  which  their  affairs  are 
eonducled,  appears  rather  calculated  to  expand  than  il- 
liberalize  the  mind. 

Moreover,  a  confidcrable  portion  of  them  having 
enj  )ycd  the  advantages  of  the  beft  education,  muft, 
iroiR  that  circumftance  alone,  have  a  fair  chance  of  not 
meriting  the  denunciation  of   Edmund  Burke. 

That  the  American  merchants  are  in  general  fiircwd, 
intelligent,  and  penetrating,  cannot  be  denied.  Thev  are, 
in  thcfe  refpeds,  at  lead  on  a  level  with  the  merchaiits 
ot  any  ether  country. 

It  mud,  however,  be  acknowledged,  that  in  the  courfc 
they  have  fleered  from  the  commencement  of  the  year 
i8o6,  till  the  declaration  of  war,  they  have  been  as  la- 
mentably  blind  to  their  own  vital  interefls  and  to  the 
hi'rlieft  interellsof  their  countrv,  as  il  thev  were  almoll 
;:h()gciher  deficient  ot  the  reafoning  faculty.  They 
have  inflifted  incalculable  injury  on  both.  Indeed  fo 
intimately  in  this  cafe  were  thefe  interefts  connoted, 
that  both  were,  and  mufl  neceffarily  be,  equally  affefctcd 
by  the  fame  wound.  I  hope  to  make  this  appear  to  tlieii 
ronviftion  and  that  of  the  public. 

By  a  recurrence  to  the  ^th,  6th,  7th,  8th,  9th  and  lolh 
cliapters  ot  this  woik,  the  reader  will  lee  that  the  mer- 
cantile part  of  the  cotnmunity  felt  the  higheft  indigna- 
tion in  1806,  at  the  pretenfions  of  England  to  limit  tiic 
Atnerican  trade  in  the  colonial  prodnftions  of  her  enc- 
v.iies  ;  that  thev  verv  ftrougly  rciJionllrrited  with  thefrov- 
t'rmnent  to  refill  thofe  ))retentlu;is  ;  and  that  ^/^<?v /;/r'(4'"- 
"d  themfe'.vt's  to  thejr  countrv  audio  the.  luorld,  to  jup- 
hort  the  government  in  wkaUver  meajures    ??i?^/it  h  n':- 


m[ 


THE    OLIVE    BUANCir. 


2^3 


cdjary  to  oblain  redrefs — obinon/ly,  evidently,  and  undc- 
niahh  ?nennuig  even  the  ultima  ratio  j[^enfium. 

Tlie  pacific  meafuies  adopted  to  effect  the  obje/:!:  oi 
tlieir  defircs  were — a  prohibition  ot  the  importation  oi" 
some  of  the  mod  important  ot  the  manutatlures  ot 
Great  Britain — an  embargo,  when  tlie  injuries  of  that 
nation    had  been  vaftly  increafed — and    non-intercoufe. 

Did  the  American  merchants  redeem  their  pledge  ? 
Did  they  preferve  their  faith  ?  Did  they  fupport  the 
government  in  all  or  any  of  thefe  meafures  ? 

No.  They  inchibitablv  did  not.  There  is  not  a  candid 
fcderalift  from  New-Hamplhire  to  Georgia,  that  will  af- 
fcit,  that  the  merchants,  as  a  body,  fuppoited  the  govern- 
ment in  any  one  of  thefe  meafures.  I  fay  dift in6>lv,  as  a 
body.  There  were  illullrious  exceptions.  But  the  fide- 
Ktv  of  thefe  exceptions  in  redeeming  their  pi-  ige  was 
iiii.iv.iiling  {f^  riie  [de.Joi'  :i\i<{  Jorjmtcd  by  the  body — 
'  omplddy  forfeited. 

The  clear,  imlifpiitable,  and  difhonourable  faft  is,  that 
alter  having  impelled  and  goaded  the  government  into 
nieafurc"  to  procure  redrefs,  they  not  merely  withheld 
their  fupport  from  thofe  meafures,  but  a^tuallv  as  far  as 
(Icnended  on  then),  prevented  their  fuccefs.  They  hung 
hoftilely  on  tlie  fkirts  of  the  government,  and  defeated 
tlie  embargo,  non-intercourfe,  and  all  the  other  reffrifclive 
meafures. 

I  have  thus  far  confidered  the  point  as  it  refpefted 
ihcir  plighted  faith,  and  the  obligation  thev  were  therebv 
under  to  fupport  the  government  in  meafures  which  had 
arifen  out  of  their  memorials,  remoiiftrances,  and  folemn 
pledges.  ■ 

I  now  enter  on  the  confideratifjn  of  their  conduff,  as  It 
flcmonftrates  an  unparalleled  blindncfs  towards  then-  own 
in'.erclls  and  thofe  oi  their  country. 

Whatever  misjudging  prejudice,  or  furious  fa61ion, 
devotion  to  England,  or  liodilitv  to  France  may  pretend, 
the  folemn  fact  is,  that  the  United  States  were  mofl 
iiricvoudv  outraged  and  injired  by  Great  Britain. 
The  violenc"  or  cxrcffes  oi   fiance,  afTorded  no  juilifi- 

21* 


'  'I 


tikQ 


THE    O.MVft   BIlAN'CJf. 


"k  ^ 

"ijv 

I'ji 

r'' 

l\|  i^i 

m  ''■■> 

m 

i'i 

* 

'  ' 

m 

m 

1 

-t 

E, 

i-i 

y 

u  •/ 


cation  to  tiiofe  of  her  enemy.  •'  Retaliation,"  'v  ilu 
words  of  Mr.  Bayard  and  Mr.  Lloyd,  "  was  A  .\4KRh 
PRKTENCtE."  .(^  //■  A  robs  me  of  my  hat,  U  dots 
not  follow  that  B  has  a  rTghl  to  retaliate  on  MIM,  //, 
rolfbirig  ME  of  my  coat  or  naiflccat.  And  Hill  ids,  li 
A  threatens  to  rob  me,  but  has  not  the  power  to  do  it, 
has  B  the  ri£;ht  to  retaliate  on  him  by  robbing  mt\ 
Fiance  pretended  to  blockade  En/rland,  and  feize  neutial 
velFels  bound  there — but  was  utterly  unabie  to  effetl  her 
purijofes.  England  retaliated  upon  France  by  fc'izinjr 
OUR  VESSELS  bouud  to  that  country  ;  and  perfevcrcd  in 
that  lawlefs  courfe  ior  entire  years,  having  depredated  on 
the  Uniteci  States  to  the  amount  oi  millions,  and  with 
every  species  of  aggravation,  of  which  fuch  an  outtagc 
is  fufcejUible — and  all  was  d(jne  to  pnnifli  France,  whom 
(he  was  at  the  fame  time  fupplying  with  our  produftions 
lierfelf  !  !  !  There  is  not  in  the  hiilory  of  the  world  any- 
thing more  srofs  or  Icfs  detcnlible. 

When  we  are  laid  in  our  graves,  and  our  fac- 
tions and  convulfions  are  buried  in  oblivion,  pofterity 
will  pafs  a  heavy  fentence  ot  condemnation  upon  thele 
o;lious,  thefe  opprefTive  tranfacrions.  I  am  fure  fuch 
is  the  decifion  of  all  impartial  and  unprejudiced  men 
in  Europe.  I  would  forfeit  a  world,  were  I  ponc'lfcd 
of  one,  if  this  be  not  Alexander  the  deliverer's  fenti- 
ment. 

That  America  has  been  the  aggrieved  nation,  and 
England  wholly  the  aggrcffor,  is  palpable  from  one 
circumftance,  that  in  all  the  diplomatic  intercourfe  that 
has  taken  pi  ice  between  the  cabinet  of  St.  James's  and 
that  at  Wafliington  ;  the  former  has  hardly  ever 
made  the  flightefl  complaint  ot  injuftice  againft  the 
latter,  except  occafionallv  of  partiality  towards  France. 
This,  if  it  mean  any  thing,  mud  certainly  mean  that 
we  bore  French  depredation^  injult^  and  outrage,  more 
patiently  than  FjighJIi  outrage,  infult,  and  depredation. 
If  it  have  any  other  meaning,  I  fhall  be  gratified  to  have 
it  demon llrated. 


V 


i  i 


•J' HE    OLIVR     BttAN'CII. 


21', 


France  liail  one  folid,  fubft.int'nl,  and  mod  import- 
ant caufe  of  com|)laint,  to  which  Enqlnnd  had  no  pre- 
tence whatever.  (]:V*  Our  commf.reial  marine  was  a 
conjiant  nurfury  for  Great  Britain,  to  fupply  her  na- 
vy per  fa%  nefasque,  with  fe.amen  to  annoy  and  dijirefs 
her  enemy.  Tiius  we  uniformly  fubmltted  from  1792 
to  1812,  to  have  our  neutrality  violated,  to  the  material 
benefit  of  one  belligerent  ^nd  extreme  irjuryot  the  other. 

It  will  not,  from  the  premifes,  be  denied,  that  Irom  the 
declaration  of  war  between  France  and  England,  the 
latter  power  conftantly  made  inroads  upon  us — and  we 
as  conllantly  fought  redrels — and  that  our  principal 
giievances  were  the  outrages  pra6lired  on  our  feamen, 
and  the  unceafing  and  intolerable  infringement  ot  our 
commercial  rights  and  privileges. 

Under  this  view  of  the  cafe,  the  corre/ilnefs  of  which 
will  not,  I  truft,  be  difputed,  wliat  courfc  ought  an  en- 
lightened body  of  merchants  to  Ueer  ? 

Suppofe  them  patriotic  and  public  fpirited  ;  a  regard 
to  the  national  honour  and  intereft  would  impel  them 
to  uphold  the  government  of  their  own  country  in  a 
ftruggle  again  ft  the  lawlefs  outrages  of  a  foreign 
nation.  But  fuppofe  them  bafe,  fordid,  felfifh,  avari- 
cious, and  without  a  fingle  fpaik  ot  patriotiim,  pub- 
lic fpirit,  or  liberalitv,  ought  not  then-  very  fclHfh- 
ncfs  dictate  the  fame  courfe  ?  How  could  they  fail 
to  fee  that  every  ftep  they  took  to  harrafs,  to  cripule, 
to  embarrafs  their  own  government,  was  a  llep 
towards  enabling  the  foreign  and  aggrefTing  nation 
to  triumph  over  their  country,  and  to  enforce  its 
claims,  to  the  manifeft  and  immenfe  injury  of  their 
moft  vital  interefts  ?  I  fhould  pity  the  fatuity  of  a 
Idd  who  had  been  but  fix  weeks  in  a  counting  houfe, 
and  did  not  at  once  perceive  the  cogency  of  thefe  ar- 
guments. This  point  is  clear,  and  plain,  and  convinc- 
ing, in  theory  :  But  it  does  not  reft  on  theory.  We 
have  a  ftrong  and  praftical  illuftration  of  it  by  our 
own  melancholy  experience,  an  illuftration  that  the 
Ij'ierchants  of  this  country  will   long  have  caufe  to  de- 


.\ 


\ 


'■   m 


I- 


518 


THE    OI-IVF,  nnAN'CH. 


o 


plore.  By  the  acobinlcal  and  diAjrganizing  comhina. 
lions  to  oppofe  tlie  meafiircs  calculated  to  procure 
rcdrefs,  England  was  enabled  to  enforce  tlie  orders  in 
council  tor  four  years  and  a  half,  whereby,  for  fixtecn 
months,  fhe  cut  off  our  trade  with  all  Europe  but 
Sweden  and  her  own  dependencies,  th,)t  is  to  ("ay.  (lir- 
forbad  us  to  trade  with  about  one  hundred  (md  thwtv  mil- 
lions of  the  people  of  Europe  ; — and,  for  the  lenianidcr  ot 
the  time,  when  fhe  fomewhat  relaxed  her  orders,  with  at 
kajl  fifty  millions. 

Ntvcr  has  the  ''un  in  his  courfe  beheld  fuch  tran- 
fcendent,  fuch  lamentable,  fuch  irreparable  folly  as  the 
merchants  of  the  United  States  have  been  guilty  of  in 
this  inffance.  Throughout  the  whole  of  the  arduous 
conflict  between  tlie  United  States  and  Great  Britain, 
fl::!"  they  have  con/lautly,  and  -invariably^  and  moll  ener. 
getically  thwarted,  arid  harafjed,  and  cmharraffed  (hz 
fiovernment.  Thev  have  defended  the  con(bift  of  Britairi 
throughout — and  as  conltantly  laboured,  in  the  face  ot 
reafon,  jullice,  and  common  fenfe,  to  put  their  own 
nation  in  the  wrong.  And  for  what  end  ?  <^  To  fervc 
the  purpofts  of  party ;  C^lT  to  enable  a  few  ambitious 
rde.n,  zufio  Zi'cre  out  oj  ojfice,  and  panted  to  get  tn,  to  ac- 
complijii  this  objed. 

I  once  more  wifh  to  qualify  thefeobfervations.  Tliere 
were  here,  as  in  a  former  cafe,  fplendid  exceptions  anionic 
the  merchants,  men  who  difplayed  the  mofl  exaltrrl 
patriotifm.  Thefe  exceptions  do  not  invalidate  the  rule. 
I  fpcak  of  the  merchants  as  a  body  ; — for  it  is  thus  only 
they  can  be  confidercd  in  fuch  a  difcuflion  ^s  the  prefeiit; 
— as  their  operations  on  the  government  and  nation  were 
felt — and  more  paiticularly  as  they  aRcd  in  the  eaft. 

Any  one  of  the  three  pacific  meafures  adopted  by 
this  government,  had  it  been  properly  fupported  by 
the  mercantile  interefl,  would  have  obliged  Great 
Britain  to  redrefs  our  wrongs  and  very  '  >eedily.  Wc 
fhould  then  have  enjoyed  an  unfhackled  commerce. 
And  had  our  merchants,  either  from  p.itriotifm  or 
felfilhners,    fu.fered    a    Ihort    temporary    privation    ot 


THE    OMVB  BRANca. 


i240 


bufiners,  M<?y  would  have  been  re[),iid  by  a  tenfold  har- 
vejl  of  mojl  lucrative  commerce.  But  taflion  led  thcni 
aftray.  They  lendeicd  wiiolly  nugatory  all  the  mca- 
furcs  adopted,  to  guard  their  interells  and  to  extoit 
juftice  tor  their  wrongs.  Great  Britain  was  thus  en- 
couraged to  proceed  in  her  aggreflions ;  and  this  led 
to  a  wafting  war,  ot  which  it  is  impollihie  to  calculate 
the  confcquences.  But  tor  this  hoftile  oppohtion  ot* 
the  mercantile  clafs,  we  Ihould  have  eafilv  cleaned  its 
ravages. 

In  all  the  wild,  frantic,  and  fatuitous  career  ot  fac- 
tion, from  the  carlieft  records  of  time  to  the  prcient 
<ldy,  I  believe  there  is  no  parallel  cafe.  Never  did  an  in- 
telligent, enlightened  body  of  men,  make  fo  immcnfe, 
fo  wanton,  fo  irrecoverable  a  facrifice  of  their  dearcft 
interefts,  and  fo  completely  contrary  to  the  ditlates'of 
reafon  and  common  fenfe. 

|jr  If  Belzebub  or  Lucifer  held  the  reins  of  govern- 
ment^ policy  and  f  If  tnter^jl  would  ditlate  that  m  all  con- 
lejls  with  foreign  nations,  he  ought  to  be  fufyporfed  unlefs 
moil  manif>'./iiy  and  egregiou/lv  unju/l.  f^  Public  fpirit 
and  felfiihnefs  eciiially  combine  to  enforce  this  pn.'cept. 

Horo  tranfcen  Iftitfy  fupirior  Great  Britain  towers  over 
us,  in  this  refp^cl  /  IVhat  a  fublime  lejf:>n  fJie  holds  out — 
what  a  noble  example  fat  offers  us  to  follow  ! 

Fufi  est  ah  horite  docerl. 

England  is  torn  bv  fafclion  like  Atierica.  There  is 
.i  conllant  tlruggle  between  the  incumbents  in  office 
and  thofe  who  pant  aitfr  the  fi-ats  thcv  fill.  Bur  when-- 
evoi  t\\t'.  honour  or  vital  interellof  the  nation  is  ;it  ft-ikc, 
pyttv  in  a  gieat  me^fure  dies  awav  or  becomes  incap  tblc 
Oi  injiring  the  common  caufe — ail  unite  umler  the  :ia- 
tiDUdl  Ihnu'lard — and,  till  the  end  in  view  is  acconiplilh- 
eJ,  diUintiKJus  are  ahuoll  whollv  lolt  in  tlie  one  ((^rn- 
luon  defigiiation,  fupporters  oi  tlieir  country's  inteieft 
urul  honour. 

Nf.t  fo  in  America.  It  is  a  fatal  truth,  that  ;!t  the  prc- 
I'cnt  inonicnt    when  not   mt-relv   our  intcrelt,    and  ottr 


'•1  ^ 

\ 


i 


-t#M"' 


230 


THE  OLIVE  BUAKOM. 


lionour,  but  even  our  very  falvation  is  jeopardized,  fac. 
lion  mgcs  in  many  places  with  unabated  violence  ;  and 
wicked  men  are  incelfcintly  employed  in  exciting  our 
citizens  to  embrue  their  liands  in  the  blood  ot  their 
countrymen,*  inltcad  of  preparing  to  oppofe  a  vinditlivc 
enemy.  May  the  God  ot  peace  and  love,  difpel  the 
clouds  that  impend  over  us — banilh  our  dilcords — diul 
once  more  unite  us  in  the  bonds  ot  harmony  and  chantv 
towards  each  other.     Amen.    ^^^  v   •      --  .  -  j*; 

CHAP.  XXXII. 

Turbulence  nf  Boafon.  liosfon  acta  on  ,Mas9achusctls. 
Jlassachiisefls  ncta  uii  the  rest  of  J^ew-En^hind.  Jea- 
lousies and  discord  seduloush/  eacited.  Hateful  picture. 
of  the  southern  sitites.  Commercial  and  unti-cowun'rciol 
states.  Enquirtj  into  the  claims  of  A''ew  Eng-land. 
Yankeeism.    Moral  and  religious  people. 

Boflon,  tlic  metropolis  of  Mafnichiifctts,  has  been,  for 
a  long  period,  and  more  paiticularlv  fince  the  clofc  ot 
the  reign  of  federalifm,  the  feat  of  difcontent,  complaint 
and  turhulence.  It  has  been  itfelf  rcftlcfs  and  uneafy — 
and  has  fpread  renicnhefs  and  uneafincfs  in  every  direc- 
tion. It  has  thwarted,  haraflcd,  and  cn.barraflcd  the 
general  government,  incomparably  more  than  all  the  rcii; 
ot  the  union  together. 

Whatever  difficulty  or  diflrcfs  has  arifen  from  the 
extraordinary  circmnftances  ot  t!:c  times — and  great 
difficulty  and  diHrefs  were  inevitable — has  been  ag- 
gravated and  magnil'icd  to  tiie  highed  degree,  for  the 
purpofe  of  inflaming  the  public  pailions.  The  leaders 
in  tiiis  bufinefs  were  clamorous,  when  we  were  at 
peace  in  1793  and  in  1806,  for  war  again fl  England, 
on  accouiit  of  her  depredations  on  their  commerce. 
They  were  equally    clamorous,  as    we    have    fecn,  in 

*  This  is  tlic  incvilji'olc  tendency,  althongli  ik  t  the  declared  pur- 
pose of  a  \ciy  cousidcrable  iiiimbcr  of  llie  publications  in  ccitaifi 
iit'Hgpni'cis, 


THE   OLIVE   BRAKCIt. 


9i#> 


1S03  tor  war  again  (I  Spain,  on  account  ot  the  ri^lit  o\ 
ilepofit  at  Ncw-Oi leans,  and  fienounccd,  in  tlic  rnofl: 
virulent  ftile,  the  imbecility  and  cowardice  of  the  gov- 
ernment. From  the  moment,  when  war  was  declared, 
they  have  clamoured  tor  peace,  and  rcprc)b.;ted  the  war 
as  wicked,  unjuft,  and  unnecelFarv,  althouirh  the  cai  "es 
ot  war  were  incomparably  greater  in  1812,  than  in  17  3, 
1803,  or  in  1806.  Tiiey  have  created  difficultv  "ud 
obilru6lion  in  the  profecution  ot  the  war  ;  and  (}dr  rfpro- 
ha'e  the.  admiivftratwn  for  imbecility  in  carrxinfr  it  on. 
Tliey  have,  as  1  thall  prove,  reduced  the  government  to 
bankruptcy  ;  and  ^T  reproach  it  for  iti  ni:ceffities  and 
mbarraffintuts.  In  a  word,  all  their  movements  have 
lidd  and  llill  have  but  one  ol  j'ft,  \o  enteebie  and  dirtr.i6l 
the  government — and  this  objetl  has  been  too  fucccfs- 
hilly  attained. 

With  a  population  of  onlv  33.000  inha!)!tints  and 
wit!)  a  commerce  quite  infignificant,  compared  with  that 
of  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  or  Charleflon, 
Bolton  has,  by  management  and  addrefs,  acquired  a  de- 
gice  of  influence  bevond  all  proportion  greater  than  its 
due  (hare — greater  in  fati  than  the  above  four  cities 
combined — a  degice  of  influence  which  has  been  ex- 
eicifed  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to  become  darigerous  to  pub- 
lic and  private  profperiiy  and  happinefs.  and  to  the  peace 
and  pertnanence  of  the  union.  It  has  brougiit  us  to  the 
very  verge  of  its  difTolution,  and  tincatens  us  witii  the 
awful  confequence — a  civil  war. 

The  movers  of  this  mighty  piece  of  machinery — 
this  lever  that  puts  into  convulfive  motion  the  whole 
ol  our  political  fabiic,  are  few  in  number. — But  they 
are  polfefFed  of  inordinate  wealth — of  confiderable 
talents — great  energy — and  overgrown  influence.  They 
afford  a  (ignal  proof  how  much  a  few  men  tnay  effeti 
by  energy  and  concert,  more  efpecia'ly  when  they  are 
not  very  fcrupulous  about  the  means,  provided  the  ends 
arc  accomplifhed.  A  northern  contederacy  has  l)een 
their  grand  objefel  for  a  number  of  years.  They  have 
icpeatcdiy  advocated  in   the  public  prints  a  feparation 


»  )  'ft    ^ 


\t 


* 


'f  *t 


>iy2 


THE   OLIVE    IJHAKCU. 


of  the  flatcs,  on  account  of  a  pretended  dlfcordancc  ol 
views  and  interells  ot  the  differmt  fections. 

This  prcjcfcl  of  a  fcpaiation  of  tlic  fifties  was  formed 
fliottly  after  the  adoption  of  the  conflitution  Whether 
•t  was  vcntiucd  before  the  public  earlier  thiin  1796,  I 
know  not.  But  of  its  prorimigation  in  that  )  ear,  tlitic 
is  the  mod  inchibitable  evidence.  A  n  ){l  elaborate  let 
of  papers  was  then  publifhcd  at  the  city  of  Haitloid,  in 
Connetnt  ut,  the  j;)int  produftion  of  an  alfocialion  of 
men  of  tiie  firfl  t-iieiits  and  inHuence  in  tiie  flate.  TIkv 
.ippcarod  in  the  (^)nnetl;icut  Courant,  publifhed  in'  Hud- 
Ion  and  Goodwni,  two  eminent  printeis,  ol,  I  btlicvc, 
confidetable  revolutionary  flanding.  There  were  then 
none  of  the  long  catalogue  of  grievances,  which,  fmcc 
that  period,  have  been  fabricated  to  jufliiy  the  recent  at- 
tempts to  didblve  the  union.  Gcneial  Wafliington  was 
prefident  ;  Jolni  /-  !ams,  an  ealfcrn  citizen,  vice-prcfi- 
dent.  There  was  no  French  influence — no  Virginia 
dynafly — no  embargo — no  non-interc(»urfc — no  terrapin 
policy — no  democratic  madnefs.  In  fine,  every  feature 
in  the  affairs  of  the  country  was  precifely  according  to 
their  fondeft  wifhes. 

The  efiays  of  Pclham  were  repuhlifhed  in  Philadelp'iia 
in  a  paper  called  the  New  Woi  Id,  edited  by  Mr.  S.  H. 
Smith. 

To  fow  difcord,  jealoufy,  and  hoftility  between  the 
difTerent  parts  of  the  union,  was  the  firft  and  grand  ftcp 
in  their  career,  in  order  to  accomplilh  the  favourite  ob- 
jeH  of  a  reparation  of  the  flates. 

In  fift,  witliont  this  efficient  inftrument,  all  their 
ef?()rts  would  have  been  utterly  unavailing.  It  would 
have  been  impo^Tihle,  had  the  honeft  vcomanrv  of  Ncw- 
F.ngland  continued  to  regard  their  fouthern  fellow-citi- 
zens as  friends  and  brethren,  having  otic  common  in- 
tereft  in  the  promotion  of  the  general  wcltare,  to  make 
them  inRruments  in  the  hands  of  thofe  who  nitended  to 
employ  theiTi  to  ope' ^te  the  unholy  work  of  deftioy'ng 
the  noble,  the  augufl,  the  fplendid  fabric  of  our  union 
and  unparalleled  form  of  government. 


\i 


.^ 


THE   OLIVE    BUANCIt. 


2.13 


For  eighteen  years,  tljorcforc,  the  moft  nnce.ifiiig 
ciulcavouis  have  been  ulecl  to  poifoii  the  minds  o\  the 
j)eo|)le  ol  the  cailcrn  Uatcs  towaicis,  and  to  alienate  them 
ironi,  tlieir  fellow  citizens  ot  the  louthcrn.  The  people 
(if  the  latter  feMion  have  heen  ponitraycd  as  demons 
incarnate,  and  deditnte  ot  all  tl)e  good  ijnalities  tliat 
dignity  or  adoin  hinnan  nature — that  acquire  efletni 
or  regard — that  entitle  to  rcfpc^t  and  veneration.  No- 
thing can  exceed  t!ic  virulence  of  thefe  caricatures, 
lunie  ol  which  would  have  luited  the  terocious  iniiabi- 
tants  of  New  Zealand,  rather  than  a  civilized  or  polifhed 
nation. 

To  illuftrate,  and  remove  all  douht  on,  this  fubjcft,  I 
fuhjoin  an  cxtiafcl  from  one  ot  Pclham's  elFays, 

"  Nep;rocs  are,  in  nil  respects,  cxci])!  in  vcgarfl  to  life  and  dcatli,  the 
cattle  of  the  cilizriis  of  the  sniilhern  slaKs.  (;^  If  theif  uwre  ifood 
fbr  fo'id,  the  pyohiihilitii  is,  that  even  the  Onarr  of  (taatroijing  their 
lives  woiil  '  be  enj'tijiul  hy  their  o-^vners,  an  fill h/  cm  it  is  over  the  liven 
of  theif  citttle  ^S  ^^  ciinnot  he,  that  their  laws  prohibit  the  oioiers 
from  k-illirnr  their  slaves,  because  thos,-  sUrrcs  are  human  be  ugs,or  he 
cause  it  ts  a  moral  evil  to  ilcHtroy  t-em  W  that  wen-  thf  ease,  how 
can  they  j<i»tif>  their  beiiisj;  trtatefl,  in  .ill  other  lespects,  like  brutes  <l 
lor  it  is  in  this  point  of  view  nlone,  Ihnt  nep;i'oes  in  <he  soiilhci  n  states 
are  cooMilered  in  laei  <is  different  from  cattle.  They  are  hought  tind 
sold— ih  y  are  fed  or  kept  hungiy — tlicy  are  clothed,  or  rednn  li  to 
niikedness.— they  are  hi  nlen,  turned  out  to  the  fui)  of  tlie  elcnirnts, 
and  torn  lV(ini  im-ir  deaicst  connections,  With  us  little  remorse  us  if 
they  -were  beasts  of  the  f  eld." 

Never  was  there  a  more  infamous  or  unfounded  cari- 
cature than  this — never  one  more  difgraceful  to  its  au- 
thor. It  may  not  be  amifs  to  Hate,  and  it  greatly  enhances 
the  turpitude  of  tlie  wrUer,  that  at  the  icriod  when  the 
above  was  written,  there  were  nianv  tlaves  in  Cormccli- 
cut,  who  weie  fubje61  to  all  the  diladvantages  that  attended 
the  foiithcrn  (laves. 

Its  vile  charafler  is  further  greatly  aggravated  by  the 
confideration  that  a  large  portion  of  thefe  very  negroes, 
and  their  anceftors,  had  been  purchafed,  and  rent  trom 
their  homes  and  families  by  citizens  of  the  eaftern  ftates, 
who  weie  aftually  at  that  moment,  and  long  aftcrwardSj 
ctigagcd  in  the  Slave  Trade. 
22 


\ 


if  ii 


'Ik 


-  -H^  -^  -  -~ 


^-^.r*' 


s 


i5i 


THK    OLIVE    nUAVffH. 


Tlie  unlioly  and  dcnionnc  rtjiril  tliat  irilpurd  tl,c 
ur'uor  ol  the  ubovc  vile  libc'  Lts  Ix  cii,  I'l on»  thai  hour 
to  tlic  prclt'ut,  inccd'.mtlv  cmp;  <ycd  to  excite  liollihty 
hctvvc'cn  the  difrcrcnt  IcMioris  ol  ilie  uiiioii.  To  {uch 
hoiid)le  lengths  lias  tliis  f'piiit  been  cariicd,  that  many 
paragraphs  have  occafioiially  appeared  in  tlic  Bcjfton  pa- 
])Cis,  intended  and  calcidatcd  to  excite  the  negroes  ol  the 
louthern  ftates  to  rile  and  njallacic  tlicir  niaih'rs.  This 
will  nndoubtedly  appear  incredible  to  the  leader.  It  is 
ncverthelefs  iacredly  trne.  It  is  a  fpecies  of  turpitude 
and  bafenefs  ot  which  the  world  has  prothiced  few  ex- 
amples. 

Thns  foine  progrcfs  was  made.  Btit  it  was  incon- 
fidercd)lc.  While  the  yeomaiwy  of  tlie  eaftern  Ibitis, 
were  enriched  by  a  beneficial  commerce  with  tiie  foutli- 
crn,  they  did  not  feel  dilpofed  to  quarrel  with  them  for 
their  hippofcd  want  of  a  due  degree  of  piety  or  moriility. 

A  d'-c  per  game  was  recpiifite  to  be  played,  oi  all  the 
pains  taken  so  t^ir  would  have  been  wholly  fruitlcTs. 
And  this  was  fcduloidlv  undertaken.  The  prefs  literally 
groaned  with  efforts  to  |;rove  five  points,  wholly  dellitutc 
of  foundatir)!!. 

Fu  ft,  Tliat  the  eaftern  ftates  were  fupereminently 
commercial. 

Secondlv,  That  tlie  ftates  fouth  of  the  Patowmac, 
were  wholly  arrricultural.  • 

Thirdly,  That  there  is  a  natural  and  inevitable  hoftility 
between  commercial  and  agricultural  ftai  s. 

Fourthly,  That  this  hoftility  lia?.  unitormly  pervaded 
tlic  whole  fouthern  feflion  of  the  union.     And, 

Fifthly,  That  all  the  meafures  ot  congrefs  were  dic- 
tated by  this  hoftility  ;  and  adlually  intended  to  ruin  the 
commercial,  meaning  the  eaftern  ftates. 

1  do  not  aftcrt  that  thefe  pofitions  were  ever  laid  down 
in  regular  form,  as  thefes  to  argue  upon.  But  I  do  aver, 
that  they  form  the  bafis  of  three  fourths  of  all  the  eftays, 
paragraphs,  fquibs,  and  crackers,  that  have  appeared  in 
the  Bofton  papers  againft  the  adminiftration  tor  many 
years   paft.     *'  The  Road  to   Ruin,"  afcribed  to  John 


,  ^,.F;»Ji-.,^*_-%':i;f.;j?-'^-  -y^^j  . 


yf^-*-  .^^-*  .*-■,.*•  *^k-fc«  f 


;''v^» 


THE    ULIVE    llRANnil. 


255 


Lowell,  now  bciore  me,  is  rcinark.jblc  lor  itj  virulence, 
its  ai  rinionv,  its  uitcnjoerance,  and  lor  the  tjU'iits  ot  the 
uritcr.  lie  undoubtedly  places  lus  fubje^.t  in  the  (liong. 
ell  point  of  light  pollible  lor  lucli  a  luljct.  iiut  11  sou 
extia^i  tioin  Ins  ella\'s,  the  pctitio  piiucipii  ot  tliele  j)o(i. 
tious,  all  the  rell  is  a  mere  caput  inortuum — all  '*  icnuid 
and  liJi  y."  On  thefe  to|)ics  the  changes  are  riirij^  in  end- 
lefs  luccedion.  The  fame  ojiieivation  will  applv  .md 
with  equal  force,  to  hundreds  and  thoulands  ol  eilays 
and  p«ragia|)hs,  witttcn  on  the  fame  topic. 

Never  w  ^  the — gitlfa  n<)n  in,  Jed  /acfie  caM'uJo — 
more  complciely  verified.  Thele  politions,  however  ab- 
furd,  however  extravagant,  however  ridiculous  they  ap. 
pear  in  their  naked  lorm,  have,  by  dint  of  inceirant  repe- 
tition, made  riich  an  imprcfiion  upon  the  minds  of  a  lar^e 
portion  of  the  people  of  the  ealleni  Hates,  that  tliev  are 
as  thoroughly  convinced  oi  their  tiuth,  as  ol  any  pioblem 
in  Euclid. 

BoHon  having  ar}ed  upon  and  indamed  Mafraclmrclts, 
tliat  ftate  has  atled  upon,  and  put  in  niovemcnt  the  lefl  ot 
the  ealfein  Hates,  more  particularly  Connc^licut  and 
Rhode  Ifland.  New  Hamplhire  and  Verm'Mit  are  but 
partially  inlet^ed  with  tlie  turbulent  and  Jacobinical  fpirit 
that  predominates  in  Mall'achufetts. 

It  thus  happens,  that  a  people  proverbially  orderly, 
quiet,  fober,  and  rational,  have  been  a^hially  fo  hiohly 
excited  as  to  be  ripe  tor  revolution,  and  readv  to  ovcitum 
the  whole  fydein  ot  focial  order.  A  confederacy  has 
been  formed,  which,  as  I  have  Hated,  and  as  cannot  be 
too  often  repeated,  promifes  tair  to  produce  a  convulfion 
— a  di/Tolution  of  the  union — and  a  civil  zuar,  un\els  the 
feduced  people  ot  that  fe6Vion  ot  tlie  union  can  be  re- 
covered from  the  fatal  delufion  they  labour  under,  and 
leftored  to  their  reafon. 

I  fhall  very  briefly,  and  without  much  attention  to  or- 
der or  regularity,  confider  thefe  pofitions.  They  are  not 
entitled  to  a  ferious  rclutation,  but  metely  as  they  have 
been  made  the  inllrumcnts  of  producing  fo  much  mif- 
chief. 


I 


;i 


23fi 


THK    OLIVE    BHANCH. 


-'..V? 


BcFore  I  touch  upon  the  commercial  points,  I  fJiaiJ 
offer  a  tew  obfervations  on  the  high  and  exaUed  pre- 
tenfions  of  tlie  people  of  the  ealltrn  ftates  to  f'upc- 
rior  morality  and  religion  over  the  rell  ol  the  union. 
There  has  not  been,  it  is  true,  quite  fo  much  parade 
with  thefe  exclulive  claims  as  on  the  fubje^l  of  com- 
merce. Perhaps  the  reafon  is,  that  there  was  no  poli- 
tical purpofe  to  be  anfwered  by  them.  But  that  the 
people  of  that  fe8ion  of  the  union  are  in  general  tho- 
roughly persuaded  that  tlicy  very  far  excel  the  reft  ot 
the  nation  in  both  religion  "and  morals,  no  i:ian  who  has^ 
been  converfant  with  them  can  deny.  This  folly  ot 
felf  righteoufnefs,  of  exalting  ourfelvcs  above  others, 
is  too  general  all  over  the  world;  but  no  where  more 
prevalent,  or  to  greater  extent,  than  in  the  eafterr> 
Hates,  lo  pretend  to  inftitute  a  comparifon  between 
the  religion  and  morals  of  the  people  of  Bofton  and 
thofe  of  Philadelphia,  New  York,  or  Baltimore,  would 
be  regarded  as  equally  extravagant  and  abfurd,  with 
a  comparifon  of  the  gambols  of  a  cow  to  the  fpright- 
ly  and  elegant  curvetings  of  an  Arabian  courfer.  The 
Rev.  Jedcdiah  Morfe  has  in  fome  degree  devoted  his 
geography  to,  and  difgraced  it  by,  the  perpetuation 
f)f  this  vile  prejudice.  Almoft  every  page  that  re- 
fpefts  his  own  fe6Hon  of  the  union  is  traught  with 
cncoinium.  He  colours  witli  the  flattering  tints  of  a 
partial  and  enamoured  friend.  But  when  once  he 
paifi's  the  Pitowmac,  what  a  hideous  revcrfe  ! — Ai- 
mofl  every  thing  is  there  frightlul  caricature.  So- 
ciety is  at  a  low  and  melancholy  ebb,  and  all  the 
iombre  tints  are  brought  forward  to  elevate,  by  the 
rontraft,  his  favourite  Ely  Hum,  the  caftern  Hates.  He 
dips  his  pen  in  gall  when  he  has  to  poiutray  the 
manners  or  habits,  o.  religion  of  Virginia  or  N'lary- 
land,  either  of  the  Carolinas  or  Geoigia,  or  ot  the 
\vefteni  country. 

1    Ihould    enter     far    into   the    confideration    of  thi^ 
procedure    of   Mr.   Morie,  but    that  it   has  been    ahh" 


*-po«WirJ<'*!»^'--'  ■^<^« "-""i*--^- — 


-■*  *'--"«Tl.-«wfc^ ^^-. -»-.-•  *-.^*Y' 


:-"o->  .-fc'-,  j;'z;-'it,._ 


:^^ 


THE    OMVE    liUAXUH. 


257 


(iilciiilcd  by  a  {"iipcrior  pen.  The  editor  oi  the  Port 
Folio,  himfeir  n  decided  federaliH,  reprobates,  and  pro- 
jiomues  <\  jiift  and  eternal  condcirin  ition  on  the  illiberali- 
tv  ot"  making  a  {chool,  or  indeed  any  other  book,  a  veiii- 


•Ic  to 


excMte  anmu) 


fitlcs  bttwetn  fellow  citizens  of  dif- 


ierent  portions  of  the  lame  nation. 

The  character  of  the  eailern    Rates  for  morality  has 


been 


vanons   at  various  tnncs. 


It 


was,  n 


ot  1 


onj 


incc. 


at  a  very  low  ebb  indeed.  It  is  within  the  memory  of 
thofe  over  whofc  chins  no  razor  has  ever  mowed  a  harvefl 
tiiat  Yankee  and  (harper  were  regarded  as  nearly  fynoni- 
mous.  And  tins  was  not  among  the  low  and  illiberal, 
the  bafe  and  vulgar.  It  pervaded  all  ranks  of  focicty. 
In  the  miUlle  and  iouthern  flat^is  traders  were  nniver- 
(aily  verv  much  on  tl^.eir  (rnard  a^ainft  Yankee  tricks 
whc!i  deiling  with  thof"  of  the  eaftern. 

They  now  arrogate  to  themfcives,  (and,  tor  party  pur- 
pofes,  their  claims  are  foiTietimes  admitted  by  tho;r  po. 
litical  friends,)  to  be,  as  1  have  ftated.  a  fuperior  order  to 
■  their  fellow  citizens.  They  look  d(nvn  on  thofe  ot  the 
foutfiward  with  as  much  contempt,  and  with  as  much 
foundation  too,  as  the  Pharifee  of  oL'  did  on  the  defpifed 
publican. 

Both  ot  diefe  views  are  grofsly  erroneous.  Thev 
never  were  fo  vile  as  they  were  formerlv  believed. 
They  had,  it  is  true,  many  worth lefs  mifcreants  among 
them,  who,  on  their  migration  to  the  other  Hates,  were 
p,aih\-  of  bafe  tricks,  which,  by  an  illiber??lity  difgraceful 
U)  our  i'pecies,  but  neverthelefs  very  common,  were  charg- 
ed to  tiic  account  ot  the  entire  people  of  the  eaflern  ftates, 
and  brought  them  imder  a  moil  undefcrved  odium. 

I  teel  a  pride  and  pleafure  in  doing  juftice  to  the  yeo- 
manry of  the  eaftern  ftites.  They  will  not  fufTer  on  a 
cainp^infon  of  the  fame  clafs  of  ruen  in  any  part  ot  the 
world.  They  are  upright,  fober,  orderly,  and  regu- 
lar— (in-ewd,  intelligent,  and  well  informed — and  I  be- 
lieve there  is  not  a  greater  degree  of  genuine  native  ur- 
banity among  the  yeomanry  of  any  country  under  the 
'  anopy  of  lu-wen.  And  it  is  lamentable  and  unacco'ni- 
22* 


\       31* 


ft  1 


.¥ 


*Hi 


,^        /■ 


I'. 


253 


THE    OLIVK    HHANC1I. 


table  how  they  have  allowed  thcmfelve'?  to  be  Co  cgrc- 
^'/loufly  duped  as  thcv  have  been.  I  have  known  them 
lonir:  and  my  refpe^l  for  them  has  jrradually  incrcaCi'd 
in  proportion  as  my  knou'Icdjre  of  them  extended.  Put 
I  ihdil  never  admit  an\-  excliilive  or  fuperemincnt  claim 
10  the  virtues  which  I  kno\\'  they  poireCs.  And  I  have 
no  jiefitation  in  averrim^,  that  although  Boflon,  or  Hart- 
toid,  or  Newhaven,  mav  ex!iibit  rather  mom  appearance 
ot  religion  and  piety,  than  New  York,  or  Phiiadel|)liia, 
or  Biltimore,  yet  the  latter  cities  poflefs  as  much  of  the 
reallfy.  It  would  aftoi-uHi  and  triglitrn  many  ol  the 
pious  people  in  New  York  or  Pliiladelphia  to  be  inform- 
cd-  hut  they  may  ncverthelefs  rely  upon  the  information 
ris  indubitablv  true — tiiat  a  large  portion  of  tiie  clergy  in 
the  town  of  Bofton,  are  abfolute  Unitarians  ;  and  fcoiit 
the  idea  of  li  e  divinitv  of  Jefus  Chrift  as  completely 
and  explicitly  as  ever  Dr.  Prieftlev  did.  This  is  a  di- 
grcfTion.  1  did  not  intend  to  introduce  it.  But  fince  it 
is  here,  let  it  remain.  And  let  me  add,  that  the  prefciit 
principal  of  Harvard  College  was  known  to  t)e  an  Uni- 
tarian when  he  was  eletled.  This  K^.^  eftablifhes  the 
\eiy  great  extent  and  prevalence  of  the  doctrine. 

Tiie  high  and  founding  pretcnfions  of  the  eaffern 
ilates  on  the  fuhjeft  of  commerce  have  been  almolf  uni- 
vcrfally  admitted.  No  perlbn  has  ever  thought  it  worth 
while  to  examine  into  the  a6hial  ftate  ot  the  fa6h.  It 
has  been  prefumed,  that,  in  a  matter  where  falfehood  and 
deception  were  fo  eafilv  dctetlcd,  fuch  confident  aller- 
tions  would  not  be  hazarded,  uniefs  they  refled  on  a 
llrong  foundation.  And  in  drawing  the  line  ot  demar- 
cation between  the  eaftern  flates  and  the  reft  of  the 
union,  in  the  minds  of  the  mafs  of  the  communitv,  all 
to  the  north  and  eaft  of  the  line  was  'egarded  as  devoted 
exclufively  to  commerce — all  to  the  fouth  and  weft, 
chiefly  to  agriculture. 

It  is  hardly  poflible  to  conceive  a  greater  miftake. — 
The  reader  will  be  aftonifhed  at  the  viev/  I  fhall  lay  be- 
fore him.  I  have  been  inexprefTibly  furprifed  myfelf, 
and  even  now  can  hardly  credit  my  own  Ilatcments. 
Thev  are  nevt'ilhelefs  indifputablc. 


i\ 


THE  OLIVE  nnAxcii. 


2^9 


'I'uhh 

of  E.rpnrts  from  the   JTnitcd  Su 

ttes  of  roiiEh 

7.V  and  DO 

Jlh 

i'/'r    f)ro;!urlioiif>  (ui<l  .Manufnct 

wesfrom  lT<Jl  to  1802      (  are- 

fulif 

extracted  f'-oni 

th    tri^u.ury  retiivns. 

AJa>  nchiir.etts. 

J^\iv  Yorlc. 

J^eiinv/lviniin. 

S.  Cirofina. 

1791 

JS  2,519,000 

2,505,000 

3.4,'^6.000 

2,693,000 

1792 

2,888.000 

2.535.000 

3  820,000 

2.428,000 

179.3 

3,755,000 

2,932,000 

6,958,000 

3,191.000 

1794 

5,292,000 

5,442,000 

6,643,000 

3,867  000 

1795 

7.117,000 

10,304  000 

11,518000 

5,99^  000 

1796 

9,949  000 

12.208.000 

17,513,000 

7,620,000 

1797 

7,502,000 

13,308,000 

11,416,000 

6,505  ,(00 

1798 

8,639,000 

14,300,000 

8,915  000 

6,994.000 

1799 

11,421,000 

18,719,000 

12,431.000 

8,729  000 

1800 

11,320,000 

14,045.000 

11,949,000 

10,663,000 

1801 

14.870,000 

19,851,000 

17,438,000 

14,304  000 

1802 

13,492,000 

13,792.000 

12,677,000 

10,639  000 

98,770,000 

Aliinilnid. 

129,941.000 

124.744  000 

83,631000 

Couiiect  cut. 

Ith-tili'  Island. 

lirq-inta. 

1791 

S  2,239  000 

710  000 

470,000 

3,131  000 

1792 

2  623,000 

879.000 

698.000 

3,552.000 

1793 

3.665  00  J 

770,000 

616  000 

2,987  000 

1794 

5  6S6  000 

812  000 

954,000 

3,321  000 

1795 

5.811000 

819  000 

1,222  000 

3.490.000 

1796 

9,201.000 

1,452  000 

1,589  000 

5,268.000 

1797 

9,811,000 

814  000 

975  000 

4,908.000 

1798 

12  746,000 

763,000 

947.000 

6  113  000 

1799 

16.299  000 

1.143  000 

1  055  000 

6,292  000 

1800 

12,264,000 

1,114000 

1,32    000 

4  430,000 

1801 

12,767,000 

1.446  000 

1,832  000 

5,655.000 

1802 

7,914,000 

1  G06  000 

2,433,000 

3  978  000 

101,026,000 

fierirviit. 

12,328,000 

14  113  000 

53,125  000 

Js'eiv  I/umfjfJiire 

Vtivmont. 

»A'.  Cinol.ud, 

1791 

S  491.000 

142,000 

524.000 

1792 

459  000 

181,000 

527  000 

1793 

520  000 

198  000 

365,000 

1794 

263,000 

153  000 

321,000 

1795 

695  000 

229.000 

492  000 

1796 

950  000 

378,0^  ,t 

671  000 

1797 

644,000 

275  000 

540  000 

1798 

961,000 

361  000 

537  000 

1799 

1,396  000 

361 '000 

20,000 

485  000 

1800 

1.174000 

431 '000 

57.000 

769,000 

1801 

l,7.55iOOO 

555  o;,'0 

57  000 

874  000 

1802 

1,85  -000 

565'OuO 

31,000 
165,000 

659000 

11>1 62,000 

3,829. 0'JO 

6,764  000 

'■?'r 


2t)0 


THE   OMVfc   liUANCH./ 


J/ 

'-,'"1 


Cuwpnrodca  viewa  of  the  e.xyorifi  from  the  different  .s/r/Hr.s, 
of  fiirci'rn  and  douiestic  nrticleSf  frum  1791  to  1802, 
iucliisive.     Si.'c  Tahle  A. 

N.  15.  7»  the  jjtpffflin.oc  tfibic  or  exjiorjR,  tlie  fijinrcs  lielow  tlinuRHnt!'* 
fire  uiiiioinily  omitic*!,  as  i ol  material  to  llie  ci»li;ulaU(m— and  alV^clinj; 
C(jiiHlly  bolli  bidcii  of  llic  (jucsiioii. 


I.  Maryland  exported  piglst  times  as  much  as  Connc61i- 
ciit ;  feven  times  as  niucii  as  Khode-UlaiKl  ;  more  than 
*'  tl^e  great  commercial  Rrite"  of  Maliacimfetts  ;  and 
nearly  as  nnich  as  Maflathuletts,  New-Hampfh.ic  and 
Vermont  united. 


Mnryl.ind 

Ni'w-Hnruiisliii'c 
Vurmoiil 

C'omuTliciit 
liliotk-lhlHiid 


D8.770  nOO 

)r..'.,u(ii» 


101,02C,0"a 


I'i'.rvis.coo 
i;,iia,ooo 


II.  Marvhmd  exported  above  thice  times  as  rnucli  ds 
Nevv-Hampfhire,  Vermont,  Connecticut  and  Rliodc- 
Ifland. 


IMarylMiid 
Now-I  ruDpshire 
Vermont 
(,'i)i)iici'i'nMit 
Kh(Mlc-l:>i:u.J 


iCn.'dQ 
12,.J'J8  000 
14.113.000 


101,026,0:'0 


30,455,000 


III.  vSouth  Carolina  exported  nearly  fix  times  as  much 
as  Rhode-Ifland  ;  i'evcn  times  as  iniicb  as  Connefticut ; 
above  twentv  times  as  much  as  New-Hampihire  ;  ,500 
times  iis  much  as  Vermont ;  and  one  hundred  and  (ixtv 
per  cent,  more  than  thofe  tour  dates 


South  Cnrolina 
Now  Manii.sliii'e 
Cnrintct'cut 
Ulin  «■  Islfiiid 
Vcnnotit 


r^.H<29  000 
l'2,;i'28  000 

i4.,nri,o  '0 
If)  .5. 000 


83,031  000 


30,435,000 


*•  V'Ti    ItMTi 


THE   OLIVE  DUANCH- 


2ii.L' 


TV.  Virginia  exported  nearly  filty  per  cent  more  than 
the  four  minor  eallern  lt«tes. 

Virginia 5.3,1  2d,000 

New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  Connecticut,  &c.  See  No.  2.      30,435,000 

V.  Virginia  and  South  Carolina  exported  8  per  cent 
more  than  the  five  "  greuLcomjfieraal  Jhifes." 


Virginia 
b^oiitli  Uarol'na 


5;»,125,f)00 
83,631,000 


Massnchusetts  -  -  -  J8  770,000 

New  Harapsliirc,  Vermont,  kc.  See  No.  2.    30,435,000 


136,756,000 


129,205,000 


VI.  North  Carolina  exported  fifty  per  cent  more  than 
New-Hampfhire  and  Vermont. 


North  Carolina 
■New  Hampshire 
Vermont 


3,820,000 
165,000 


6,764,000 
3,994,000 


VII.  Georgia  exported  nearly  as  much  as  Connefti* 

'-Ut.  ^ 


Georgia 
Cuiineuticut 


12,162,000 
12,328,000 


VIII.  The  five  fouthern  flates  exported  nearly  twice  as 
much  IS  tfie  five  eaftern  ftatcs. 


30,455,000 


Maryland 

Virpiinia         ... 

Norili-(Javoliiia, 

Souiii  Curolina 

Cicorgia 

Five  eastern  states,  see  No.  5. 


101  r.ofi.OOO 

53.12;),0.'>0 

6,764,000 

83  f..il.(i00 

1, 2l  62,000 


25r,, 708,000 
129,205,000 


IX.  Pennfylvania  exported    nearly  as    much  asjhe 
■'five  boafled  commercial  eaftern  ifatcs." 


\'enns)lvjniia 

Ki^e  castcu  slates,  see  No.  5. 


124,744  000 
129,205,000 


m 


_.! W.--—'V,..ii*ff. 


2(i^ 


THE  OLIVE    BllAXttll. 


M 


1 1 


n 

Table  of  Exports  from  'he    Umtt-d  S'ate%  of  Forei^ni  productiom 
u7iU  Muiiitfucturea  from  IS03  to  \H\S.     > 


50,214.000 


JMa.i.^nc'  iisetta. 

JVVry  York. 

PaiWHvh-avia. 

»S'.  CarnHna. 

1803 

S  3,369,000 

3,191,000 

3,504,000 

947.000 

1804 

10,o<Ji,000 

8,580.000 

6,851,000 

2  309,000 

1805 

13.738,000 

15,3c<4  000 

9,397  000 

3,108,000 

1806 

14,577,000 

13,709,000 

13,809  000 

2,946,000 

1807 

13,926,000 

16,400,000 

12,055,000 

3,783  000 

1808 

3619,000 

3,2'^3  000 

2,946,000 

260,000 

180'J 

6.H'J,000 

4,232,000 

4,810,000 

385,000 

1810 

7,251,000 

6,313.000 

6.241,000 

408  000 

1811 

5  192,000 

3.518,000 

3,865  000 

210  000 

1813 

2,648  000 

2,358  000 

1.313  000 

11  000 

1813 

294.000 

1,124  000 

327  000 

53  000 

• 

81.324  000 

78  052  000 

65  118  000 

14  420.000 

Aid  ii'tivif. 

CoHti    (  'ICUt. 

Jihoilc  hhtnd 

Vn-oinia. 

1803 

S  I  371,000 

10  000 

611000 

151,000 

1804 

5,213  000 

29  000 

817  COO 

395,000 

1805 

7.150,000 

90  000 

1.506  000 

660  000 

1806 

10  9U),000 

193  OuO 

l.i42  000 

428  000 

1807 

10  282  000 

105  OOO 

915  000 

367  000 

1808 

1  956  000 

15  000 

102  000 

18  000 

1809 

4,056  000 

11000 

626  000 

107,000 

1810 

5.213000 

5  000 

456  000 

189,000 

1811 

2  820,{)i;0 

38  000 

626  000 

23.000 

1812 

1,929  000 

150  000 

17,000 

1813 

1.005  OOO 

5,000 

2.000 

501.000 


6  '1.53,000 


2,355  OuO 


(in,    ■■■1(1. 

J\\  f/timf'shire. 

Fc*  >n  1)1 

^V.  t<;i  •    nn. 

1803 

f> 

25.000 

51000 

27  000 

26.000 

1804 

74  OoO 

262.000 

.55  000 

9  000 

1805 

43  000 

218.000 

67,000 

12  000 

1H06 

383,000 

102.000 

3  000 

1807 

34  000 

314  000 

55  000 

4,000 

1808 

2,000 

25  000 

1809 

85  000 

49.000 

IhlO 

3,000 

9  000 

26  000 

2  000 

18J 1 

11,000 

53,000 

5,38  1 00 

4  0cO 

181 J 

9,000 

131,000 

1813 

1,000 

190  UOO 


1,386  000 


1  075  000 


61  uOO 


\i\ 


pi  productiom 


S.  Carolinii, 

947.000 

2309,000 

3,108,000 

2,946,000 

3,783  000 

260,000 

385,000 

408  000 

210  000 

11000 

53  000 

14  420,000 


ul 


151,000 

395,000 

660  000 

428  000 

367  000 

18  000 

107,000 

189,000 

23,000 

17,000 


2.355  OuG 


26.000 


9  000 

12  000 

3  000 

4.000 


2  000 
4  0oO 

1,000 
Olv/UO 


THE    OLIVB    BRANCH. 


2f) 


>u 


Comparative   views  of  foreign   articlefi^  exported  from 
1SU3  to  1U13.     8ee  Table  B. 

I.  Maryland  exported  above  five   times  as  much  as 
the  tour  minor  ealtern  flates. 


Maryland 
Coiint'ctirut 
Kltodc- Island 
>it>w  Hiim|isliire 
Vermont 


r,o\,(ioo 
C.y.5;),ot)o 

1,07,5,000 


50,214,000 


9,915,000 


II.  South  Carolina  exported  twice  as  much  as  Con- 
necticut and  Rhode  Illand,  ten  times  as  much  as  New 
Hampfhire,  and  40  per  cent  more  than  the  lour  muior 
eartein  ftates. 


South  Carolina 
Coitnef  tirtit 
Kltude  Islaud 

New  ilampshirc 

Four  minor  eastern  Slatrs,  No.  1. 


501,000 
6,953,000 


14,420,000 


7,454,000 
l,3«b.0(>0 
9,915,000 
I 


III.  Maryland  and  South  Carolina  exported    80  per 
cent  of  the  amount  exported  by  Mairachufetts. 


Mary  In  nd 
South  Carolina 

Massachusetts 


50,i>|4,ooo 
14,4^0,000 


G4. 0.34, 000 
8I,3I4,(,0(I 


IV.    Virginia  exported  more  than   Connecticut  and 
New  Hamplhiie. 


Virginia 
Coniurtirut 
^ew  Hampshire 


2.355,009 
-     601.000 
1,386,000 
1,887,00» 


I 


, 


»    1 


i 


fn 


264 


^     THE    OLIVK  IJIlANClf. 


c. 


Tal/'c  (if  Exports  from  the  Unied  Stntei,  of  Domettic  productions  and 
J\lunvJ'acturcs,fi'ovi  |8(U  to  1813 


(I 

^Initsnchnnetti 

r.        .'Vt'.f-  York.      J'enn«fflvania. 

S.  Caro'hin. 

.' 

1803 

S  5,399,000 

7,626  000 

4,021  000 

6,863,000 

1804 

6,303,000 

7,501  000           4  178,000 

5.142  000 

1805 

5,697,000 

H.Ol'ii  000 

4.365,000 

5,957,000 

1806 

6,621,000 

8,053  000 

1,765,000 

6,797,000 

1807 

6,185,000 

9,957  000           4  809.000 

7,129,000 

1808 

1,508,000 

2  362  000 

1,066000 

1 ,404,000 

1809 

6,022,000 

8  348  000 

1  233  000 

2,861 ,000 

1810 

5,761,000 

10  928  000 

t,  75 1.000 

4  881.000 

1811 

6,042,000 

8.747.000 

S  694  000 

4,650  000 

1812 

3,935,000 

6.603  000           4.660  000 

2,024000 

1813 

1,513.000 

7,060  UOO           : 

3.249  000 

2,815  000 

J 

54,986,000         85,283,000         44,796,000 
Man,land        Connect/cut.    R.  Island.      V-rq-itiia. 

50  SZI  000 

Geortria. 

i  \ 

1803 

S  3,707  000 

1,238,000      664.000 

5.949.000 

2.345  000 

■l^*^ 

1804 

3.938  000 

1,486,000      917  000 

5,394.000 

2.003  000 

t  -', 

1805 

3,408,000 

1,353,000   1,065,000 

4,945  000 

2.351  UOO 

ii 

1806 

3,661  000 

1,522  000  .    949,000 

4  626  000 

82  U'JO 

1807 

4  016  000 

1,519,000      741.000 

4,393.000 

3  7IO.OUO 

18U8 

764  000 

397.000       139  000 

508  000 

24  UOO 

i 

laoy 

2,570  000 

655,000       658,000 

2,786.000 

1  082  000 

) 

1810 

3,275  000 

762,000      874000 

4,632  000 

2  234  oOO 

1'  11 

4  553  000 

994  000      944  000 

4  798  000 

2  5y,  ^/OO 

. 

l.JU 

3  956  000 

720  000      604  000 

2.983  000 

1  066  OuO 

\ 

1813 

2  782  000 
36  630,000 

"Vw  Tfiim'ishl^'e. 

968  (;00      234.000 

1.819.000 

1  0:M  iK;3 

11  oUooO   7.789  000 

42,833,000 
I.     Orleans 

18..4ofjO 

Tfrinovt.  JV".  Caroline 

Cohimhir.. 

1803 

S  443  000 

89,000          926  000 

1  412.000 

18U4 

453  000 

135.000          919.000 

1,392  000 

l.liZOOO 

1805 

389  000 

101.000           767,000 

2,338.000 

l,13.]i.O00 

1806 

411  000 

91  000          786.000 

2,357,000 

1.091,000 

1807 

365  UOO 

148  000          740  000 

3,161,000 

1.363  OuO 

1808 

122  000 

83  000           117  000 

537  000 

281  O';0 

1809 

201  000 

125.000          322.000 

344,000 

681  'Ji-'O 

1810 

225  000 

406  000          401.000 

1  753.000 

984  OuO 

1811 

315,000 

32,000          793.000 

2.501  000 

2.06UOOO 

1812 

104,000 

7,000          489  000 

1,012.000 

1  593, f '00 

1813 

29.000 

795  000 

1,013,000 

1  387  UOO 

3,147,000    1,217,000      7,055,000     16,408,000    13,144,000 


prtductiom  ahtl 

a.     S.  Carolina, 

6,86.3,000 

5,142  !/;K) 

5,957.000 

6,797,000 

7,129.000 

I  1 ,4U'1.000 

I  2,H61 ,000 

I  4  881.000 

I  4.65U  OOO 

)  2,024..000 

)  2,815  000 

)  50  52.3,000 


nia. 

Georgia. 

000 

2.345  000 

000 

2,0U3  000 

000 

2.351  OOO 

UOU 

82  O'JO 

,000 

3  710,000 

000 

24  uOO 

.000 

1  082  OOO 

000 

2  234  I'OO 

000 

2  5.).  "00 

000 

1  Obd  OjO 

,000 
,000 

lO.M^K.O 

18..4i.t'jO 

ans 

I  000 

B-000 

'.000 

,000 

000 

t,000 

000 

000 

2.000 

3,000 


Cohiinl'ir.. 

1  412.000 

l.loZOOO 

l,13.-5.000 

1.091,000 

1.363.000 

281  0';0 

681  'Ji^O 

984  000 

2.060,000 

1  593,000 

1  SB"  OOO 


3,000    13,144,000 


TiiE   OLIVE  BIIANCH. 


Comparative  vhws  of  domestic   articles,  exported  from 
1803  to  1813.  See  Tfthle  (J. 

I.  SoMth  Carolina  exportcl  witliin  eight  percent,  oi" 
{lie  whole  amount  exported  by  MiifLichufetts,  and  above 
Uvicc  as  much  as  all  the  reil  oi  tiic  cdilcni  flates. 


SoiUli  Carolina 
Miissncliusells     - 
Ni!w  ilHni[)sliirc 
Vermont 
Coiineclicut 
Kliudc  Island 


3,147,000 

1,217,000 

11,614,(100 

7.78'J,(K)0 


50,523,000 
54,985,000 


23,707,000 


II.  Virginia  and  Maryland  cxpoitcd  more  than  all  the 
oaftern  flates. 


Vii'Rinifi      .....  42.8.33000 

Maryland          ....  .lO.fiau.OUO 

Maswcliusetts         ....  .i-i  985.000 

llcniaining  eastern  state*  (See  No.  1.)  23,767,000 


79,463,000 


78,752.000 


III.  North  Carolina  exported  almoft  feventy  five  per 
cent,  more  than  New  Hamplhirc  and  Vermont. 


Nortli  Carolina 
Kew  Hampsliire 
Vermont 


.•5,147.000 
1,217,000 


7,055,000 


4.. 364,000 


IV.  North  Carolina  and  Georgia  exported  more  than 
the  four  minor  eaftern  ftates. 


North  Carolina        ....      7.055,"00 
Ccorgia  ....  18,548.0("0 

New  liampshire,  Verraont,  8cc.  (Xo.  1.) 


25,603.000 
23.767,000 


V.  Georgia  exported  twentv  per  cent,  more  than  Con- 
necticut, New  Hampfhire  and  Vermont. 


Georgia 
Conjiecticut 
New  Hampshire 
Vermont 

23 


11,614  000 
3, 1 47. (KM) 
I  217,000 


I8,548,00a 


15,978,0015 


' 'J 


I 


i{ 


2ii6 


THE  OLIVg    DnANCH. 


VI.  Tlic  (liftrict  ot  Columbia  and  the  flalcof  Georgia 
cxpoitc'd  tliiity  per  cent,  iiioic  tlidti  New  Hampshire, 
Vc/iijont,  Cuiuietticut  ami  Rhode  Island. 


r'oluii.l.ift     .....       I3,I*4,'.H10 
Cieoifjia  ....  I8,548.(X)0 

New  Iliinipsliire,  8tc   (No.  1.)      ' 

VII.  Virginia,  Maryland  and  South  Carol'na  expoitcd 
above  fixty  per  cent,  more  than  all  the  fivecaflcrn  ilales. 


•T  1, 692,000 
U3J(}7  (m 


42,833  000 
30/1.10,000 
50,5'2  ,IM)0 


Virrinja  .... 

JMtiiujtuI  ... 

Soutli  Cnroliiia 

Five  eastern  stiitcs  (in  No  2) 

V  III,  J  ;  e  diflrict  of  Columbia,  of  ton  miles  fquarc, 
expoitcd  more  thanNevv  Haiiipfhire,  Vciniont  and  Rhode 
Illand. 


129  980  000 
78,752  UOO 


CiluniUirt 
New  H  rwpsliire 
\'('rni«iiit 
liliude  Islitiid 


13,144,000 
3,147,000 

-     1,217,(M)0 
7,780,.  lOO 

12,1. -53,000 

IX.  The  (late  of  Virginia  exported  above  half  as  much 
as  the  five  eaftcrn  ftates. 


42.433,000 
78,752,000 


Virginia         -  .  .  .  - 

The  five  eastern  states  (No.  2.) 

X.  Virginia  exported  nearly  as  much,  and  South  Caro- 
lina 15  per  cent,  more  than  Pennsylvania. 

Viri-inia  ......  42,833.000 

Suiul.  Cnrolina     ......     .';0.5','.^,000 

IVimsj  Ivania  .....  44  790,000 

XI.  Virginia  exported  five  times  as  much  as  Rhode 
Ifland  ; — almost  four  times  as  much  as  Connecticut ;  and 
above  nine  times  as  much  as  New  Hampshire  and  Ver- 
mont. 


Virginia 
Rlinde  Island 
Connecticut 
New  tiamiishirc 
3'ermoi»t 


42.833,000 

7.789  009 

11,614,0  0 

3,147,000 

-      1,217.000 

4,36'J,0JP 


b: 


./'■,. 


THE    Ol.lVE  Dn\NCIl. 


2g: 


XII.  Thcdiftrirtof  Columbia  ami  Virginia,  expoit- 
ctl  more  tiun  Mairachufefts. 

(Juliiinltiil  .  -  1,1,144,000 

Virginia  ...         4j,yjJ,iMiu 

— — - — — .     5.'>  ,077,000 
IMussacliuvetls  ...  54,(j.-t(),u()u 

XIII    Tlie  (liftrifl  of  Columbia  exported  more  tliaii 
Connefticut  and  Vermont. 


CoI«iiiiIm<i 

CoiMlt-l'tlCUt 

Verm  oil  I 


1 1,614,000 

\,.i'!  1,'XIO 


13,144,000 


l2,83l,noo 


XIV.  South  C'lrol'ii"'  and  GeorL^a  exported  more 
than  Vlcjiricliufetts,  Rh.^j^  Hland,  New  Haniplhirc  and 
Vermotit. 


South  Cnoliiia 
Georgia 

MaHsaolimpMn 
R'xt.le  Maiul 
Ni'i«  Hampshire 
Vermout 


riO,5y3,o»o 
lH,r>4S,oiio 

— —    69,071,000 

54,n8li,ooo 

7,7«9,'>"o 

3,147,000 

I, '.'1 7, 000 
—    67,139,000 


II 


-     'i,36'l,00P 


XV.  South  Carolina  exported  450  per  cent,  more 
tliin  Connefticut  ;  nearly  fix  hundred  per  cent,  more 
than  Rhode  Ifland  ;  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  per  cent, 
more  than  tiiefe  two  ftatcs. 

South  C^irolina  ....  r>o,,'i23,ooo 

Connecliciit  .....        ii,6i4,oon 

Rhode  Igjuiid  ....  7,7s<),ooo 

XVI.  Maryland  exported  fifty  per  cent,  more  than 
the  tour  minor  eaftcrn  ftates, 

M;irylan(l  .  -  -  -  .  3G,G30,ooo 

Foiii  minor  eastern  states  (No.  I  )  .  a3, 707, 000 

XVII.  North  Carolina  and  Georgia  exported  more 
than  the  four  minor  eaftern  Rates. 

North  Carolina  -  -  7,o5n,ooo 

Gtoinia         ...  is,549,  <.o 

— — — — —     '25,6o3,ooo 
Four  minor  eastern  states  (No.  ].)  -         -         83,;  "^  .000 


f 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


ij., 


♦.^ 


<^j- 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


^1^  Ni^ 
^.  lis  IIIIIM 


1.8 


14    111.6 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  M580 

(716)  872-4503 


fV 


^^ 


<F 


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^9) 


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IHE    OLIVE   DRAXeH. 


J.  f  1 ' .»  I 


l#   Ir'.'q 


XVIII.  Georgia  alone    exported    twenty    per    ccjitt, 
more  than  Connedicut,  New  Hamplhire  and  Vcrnionl. 

Georgia  -  -  .  _  .  I8,548,ooo 

Coi.necticut  -  .  .  ]l,6l4,ooo 

New  Hampshire  -  -  -    .     3,147,000 

Veiraonl  -  .  -  l,'>l7,«i»o 

— — 15,978,000 

XIX.  The   dlftrift  of  Columbia  expoitcd  more  than 
Connedicut  and  Vermont. 

toiuinbia  .....  13,l'14,ooo 

C'oiiiiC(  ticut  _  .  .  ]  I, til 4, 000 

Vermont        ....  1,.' 17,000 

— 12,831,000 

XX.  South  Carolina,  Columbia  and  New  Orleans  ex- 
ported more  than  the  five  eaftern  flates. 

South  Carolina  •  «•  5o,523,ooo 

Coltiinhi.i  ...        13,144,000 

iXew  Orleans         ...  16,408,000 

— — — —     80,075,006 

Five  eiistern  stales  (No.  2)  -  -  78,752,000 

XXI.  The  five  fouthern  flates,  the  diflrid  of  Colum 
bia,   and  New  Orleans,  exported  tar  more  than  double 
the  amount  of  the  five  eaflern  flates,  and  within  ten  pcv 
rent,  as  much  as  the  middle  r.nd  eaflern  Hates. 

Vir<;iiiiii,  Maryliiuil    uiid  South  Caroli- 

11 1.  (No.  7.)            ...  129,996,000 

North  Carolina     ....  7.o55,oop 

tJ»'or({ia           ....           -  l»,54M,oou 

CtiluiuL>ia             ....  13,141,000 


Orleans  ... 

Five  eastern  states  (No.  2.) 
New  York 
PennsylvaDia 


l6,4(i8,ooo 

185,1 39,oot» 

78,762,000 

85,283,000 

44,796.000 
— — — .— .    204,489,000 


I  am  tired  of  this  expofure.  I  fickcn  for  the  honour  ot 
the  human  fpecies.  What  idea  mull  the  world  form  ot 
the  arrogance  of  the  prctenfions  on  the  one  fide — and. 
on  the  other,  of  the  folly  and  weakncfs  of  the  refl  ot  th'- 
union  to  have  fo  long  fuffcrcd  them  to  pafs  without  c\ 
pofure  U>  deteflion  ' 


i 


»■*<■ 


THE    OLIVE  BHANCH. 


269 


.'d  more  than 


13,144,000 


-    185,1  ;19,00» 


-    2o4,489;000 


The  naked  faft  is,  that  the  demagogues  in  the  eaflem 
ilatcs,  not  fatisficd  with  deriving  all  the  benefits  from  the 
fouthern  Hates,  that  they  would  from  fo  many  wealthy 
colonies — with  making  princely  fortunes  by  the  carriage 
and  exportation  of  their  bulky  and  valuable  produc- 
tions— and  funplvinu  them  with  their  own  manuta6Uires, 
and  the  manufattmes  and  produ(:ti(ms  ot  Lurope,  i.nd 
the  Eaft  and  Well  Indies,  to  an  enormous  amount,  and 
at  an  immenfe  profit — have  uniformly  treated  them 
with  outrage,  infult,  and  injury.  Rcgardlefs  of  her 
vital  ititcicils,  the  cafterii  fetiion  of  the  union  is  court- 
ing her  own  defiruBion,  by  allowing  a  few  reftlels, 
turbulent  men  to  lead  her  blindfolded  to  a  feparation, 
which  is  pteynant  luUh  her  cm  lain  ruin.  IFIii'iicver 
that  event  takes  place,  Jhe  finks  to  her  ntu'ive  ^n/nintfi- 
(ance. 

\\  a  reparation  were  defn  iblc  to  any  feflion  of  the 
union,  it  would  be  to  the  middle  and  fouthern  ftjtcs, 
particularly  the  latter,  who  l-.ave  been  fo  long  curfed 
with  the  complaints,  the  rellleiriKTs,  the  turbulence, 
and  the  ingratitude  of  the  eadern  dates,  that  their  pa- 
tience has  been  taxed  almofl  beyond  endurance.  "  Jc- 
Jliurun  waxed  fat,  and  hckcd,'"  And  he  will  be  fevere- 
ly  punilhed  for  his  kicking,  in  the  event  of  a  diilolution 
of  the  union. 

It  ought  to  be  obferved,  that  a  very  large  portion 
of  the  expoits  from  the  eaftern  Hates,  confifts  in  the 
produclions  ol  the  fouthern  it.ites,  firft  tranfported  to 
Bofton  and  ether  poits,  coaflwife.  So  that  even  the 
comparifons  I  have  made,  which  are  fo  mortal  to  the 
prelenfions  of  the  eaftern  ftates,  place  tlicm  on  far  better 
ground  than  they  really  deferve.  For  example — fuppofe 
aiTiong  the  exports  of  the  eaftern  ftates  a  million  ot  dol- 
lars' woith  of  cotton,  half  a  million  of  dollars'  worth  of 
flour,  halt  a  million  of  dollars'  worth  of  naval  ftores, 
all  drawn  from  the  fouthern  or  middle  ftates — they  ap- 
pear  two  millions  of  dollars  ftronger  on  the  face  of  the 
argument,  thm  they  are  in  tart  and  in  truth.  And  there 
is  no  doubt  f.  t  this  is  !hc  cafe  to  a  vail  extent. 
2^* 


2ro 


•rriK  OiMvE  Bi<A:«t;H. 


CHAP.  XXXIII. 


('oiiiparliion   of   the  e.vporl^,    forei^i-n   and  domestic,    of 
ilie  d'lQWent  slalej,  from    1791    to    1813.      Glance  uf 


ionnaL';c. 


To  enable  tlie  rcac;cr  to  form  a  fair  comparlfon  be. 
tween  the  commerce  of  the  different  ftates,  1  annex  a 
ivn;ij)t";cal  view  of  the  \vhole  of  our  exports.  He  will 
ice  at  a  Tingle  gldiice,  how  very  erroneous  are  the  opin- 
ions that  have  hitherto  prevailed  on  this  fubjctl:  ;  and  hovw" 
liig^li  even  the  fouthcrn  foreign  commerce  ioars  over  that 
of  the  boaded  "  commcrciaijiates." 


General  total  of  exporta^  nf  forci.vn  and  doinrsiic  prn<hic- 
ilnns  and  viannfact ares,  from  the  i/enr  1791  to  18 13, 
inclusive. 


A  98770,000 
n  81,324  000 
C        54,985,000 


,7\'e-ii'  York. 

J?9.9n,000 
78,05;?,000 
85,28.3,000 


!2I.,7-44,O0O 
65,118  000 
-i-4,79'3  000 


S.  Ciivrjh'va. 

8,^6.31000 
14.420  000 
50  523. 000 


§235,079,000  293,276,000  234,058,000         148  574,000 


A 
li 


A 

c 


%MnriiUiii(l. 

101,025,000 
50,214,000 
36,630,000 


Connecticut.  R.  Talaml.  Viri(iiria. 

12.3;'8,000  1',, 113,000  53  125,000 

501,000  6  953,000  2,355X'00 

11,614,000  7,789,000  42.833,000 


S  187,870,00    24,443,000-    23,855,000    98,313,oOO 


JSi".  llainfjsJtire 
3,829,000 
1,386  000 
3,147,000 

%    8,362,000 


Vermotit  JV"  Carolina.      Orleans. 

165,000  6,764.000 

1,075,000  61.000 

1,217  000  7.055.000     16,408  000 


;0      13.880,000     16,408.000 


(ti'fjrpria. 
12.162,000 
190.000 
18,548.000 

30,900,000 

Columbia. 

13,144.000 
13,144,000 


EXPLANATION. 

'Flie  fust  line,  A,  is  trtkcii  from  the  tabic  A,  page  Qr.9,  and  con- 
fains  tlic  wliole  fimount  of  the  exports  of  foreign  and  tlomeslic  arti- 
ticlcs;  fiom  1701  to  1802. 


50  523000 
148  574,000 


IHE    OLIVE    nnANCII. 


<«i    I. 


The  seroiid  liur,  B,  is  Jiikoii  from  thclaUlc  B,  paje  2(52,  aiiii-oi;' 
;aii)s  llip  wliott  of  lilt  foioiKD  iti  deles  ('X|)Oit)'<l  fiotu  InO-Jto  I8I3. 

The  third  |iii«>,  C,  is  tiki-ii  fntiii   llie  table  (',   pti^c  j()t,   and  cuii 
tuiiis  all  tlie  doiiiesdc  articles  expoileil  fi oil)  \bOj  tu  \H\J, 


Eastern   Section. 


Mass.  235  075,000 
N.  Ham  8362000 
Vet  iHoiit  2  457  000 
II.  Island  28  855.000 
foiiuec.     24,443  000 


J\U(U!e  Section. 


S  299,192,000 


N.  York  293,276  000 
Pciin.       234.658,000 

527  934  000 


Southern  Scrtion. 
!Md.  187.870  000 

Virginia  98  ,U3,000 
N  Cur.  13  880, OOv; 
S,  (Jar.  148,574.00J 
(i.oreia  3 j  900  000 
Orleans  I(r  408.000 
Coluail):a  13  144,000 


509,089,000 


I  cannot  allow  thcfe  tables  to  pafs  without  rcqueiling 
the  reader's  attention  to  tliein  in  the  nioll  particular  nian- 
]i'.T.  As  they  throw  an  irnmcnfe  flood  of  light  on  a 
fupji^^l  mofl.  cgregiouflv  mirnndcMllood,  and  on  whicii 
tiie  moll  ruinous  errors  have  prevailed,  it  belu)\'es  the 
reader  to  tefl  his  opinions  by  them,  and  lav  alide  the  pr^'- 
indices  and  iriilconceptions,  ii  any,  wiiich  he  may  have 
iormed  on  thefe  topics. 

All  the  coniufion,  the  tendency  to  difor^ani/c  the 
country,  to  overturn  the  government,  atid  to  iiuroducc 
civil  war,  have  arifen  trorn  the  crioi.s  p^revailing  on  thi! 
fubjeft  of  commerce,  of  which  the  cailern  {latc-^  have 
appeared  to  be  the  exclufivc  guardians  and  protehoi  ^,  It 
is  now  clearly  and  indifputably  cflablifhed,  that  the  coni- 
inerce  of  the  eallerii  is  tar  interior  to  tiiat  of  the  foiithcrii 
Hates.  It  appears,  beyond  t!ie  podibility  ot  doubt  or  de- 
nial, that  the  five  eallern  ftates  have  exported,  fince  the 
tormation  of  the  government,  ot  toreign  and  dome  flic 
aiticles,  including  an  inmienfe  amount  of  fouthcrn  pro- 
duftions,  only  about 

299.000,000  dollars, 
of  which  a  vafl:  propoition  was  ot  toreign  produ6}Iori"?. 
But  that  the  fouthern    ttates  have  in  tlie  fame  period  ex- 
ported to  foreign  countries  no  Icfs  a  turn  than 

509,000,000  dullajs, 
principally  of  their  own   productions  or  manufaflures, 


'  \i 

■ 

L.A 

•91 

J  m 

y 

I 

*r'T 


« ^  M  ' 


Xi4  M 


THE    OUVE  BIIANCH. 


'0\  ■' 


cxchifivc  of  tlic  prodigious  amoiitit  o\  tlieir  cotton,  to- 
bacco, rice,  njval  (lores,  &c.  expoitcd  by  tlic  cvillcrn 
flatcs.  The  roiithern  fcrtion  ot  the  union  which  has 
been  fo  cruelly,  If  wickedly,  (o  unjufllv  vilified  ,jiul 
calumniated  for  its  l;')M'.litv  to  commerce,  is  theiefore  ac- 
tually more  interelled  in  its  pielervation  than  the  caficrn 
Oates,  in  the  propoition  of  five  to  three.  There  is  iv) 
in  (lance  to  be  found,  of  fo  palp.-.hie,  fo  grofs,  fo  unfound- 
ed a  calumny,  fo  open  to  detcHion  and  piegnant  \vit!> 
inch  ruinous  confequenccs,  having  remained  fo  long  with- 
out iuveftigation. 


m 


■y 


31 


i^" 


10    1  f  .■ 


I 


From  a  view  of  tbe  preceding  tables  it  appears  that 
the  commerce  of  four  of  the  eallern  flatcs  is  to  the 
lail  degree  infignificant,  compared  with  that  of  the  fouth- 
ern  Hates,  as  will  apnear  on  the  following  compaiifons — 

Firft,  Virginia  fince  the  organization  of  the  govern- 
ment has  expoited  four  times  as  much  as  Coimefticut  ; 
more  than  three  times  as  much  as  Rhode  Ifland  ;  twelve 
times  as  much  as  New  Hampfhire  ;  forty  times  as  much 
as  Vcrinont ;  and  fifty  per  cent  more  than  thoie  four 
flates. 

Secondly,  Maryland  has  exported  nearly  ciglit  times 
as  mucli  as  Connecticut  ;  above  fix  times  as  much  as 
Rhode  Ifland  ;  twenty  three  times  as  much  as  New 
Hampfhire  ;  and  about  three  times  as  much  as  the  four 
minor  eaftern  dates. 

riiirdly,  North  Carolina  has  exported  more  than  New 
Hampfhire  and  Vermont. 

Foiuthly,  Georgia  has  expoited  more  than  Conne8i(  ut 
or  Rhode  Ifland  ;  and  three  times  as  much  as  New 
Hampfhire  and  Vermont. 

Fifthly,  South  Carolina  has  expG)rted  above  five  times 
as  much  as  Rhode  Ifland;  above  fix  times  as  much  as 
Connecticut ;  and  150  per  cent,  more  than  the  four  mi- 
nor eaflern  if ates. 


THE    ©LIVE    BRANOM. 


Sixthly,  Orleans  and  the  diftrift  of  Columbia  have 
exported  more  tlwiii  Connetlicut  or  Rhode  Hland  — 

SevctUhly,  Orleans  has  exported  twice  as  much  as 
New  Haiuplhire. 

Lignthly,  Virginia,  Maryland  and  North  Carolina  have 
expoitv  (1  niuie  tnan  tlie  whole  five  caftcrn  Hates. 

Ninthly,  the  loutliern  Hates  have  exported  75  per  cent, 
more  than  all  the  ealtcrn. 


■•  i» 


lorc  than  New 


Since  the  preceding  pages  were  written,  I  have  ex- 
.muned  an  interefting  work,  entitled  "  A  gcographiciU 
and  Itatiflical  view  oi:  Mairachufctts  proper,  by  Rodol- 
piius  Dickinfon,"  publilhed  anno  1813.  It  greatly  elu- 
cidates the  fubjert  I  have  been  difcufhng,  and  places  the 
unfoundnels  ot  the  high  commercial  claims  ot  MafFachu- 
letts  in  a  much  ftronger  pomt  ol  lijdit  than  any  ol  the 
documents  I  have  given. 

"  The  exports  in  1809  from  Bolton  and  Charlcftown, 
"  of  American  produdions  and  manula/durcs,  were 
■'  4,009,029  dollars,  oi  which  the  value  of  rice,  cotton, 
"  flour,  tobacco,  ftaves,  and  naval  llores,  ^  bang 
"'  principally  the  produce  of  the  fouthern  flates,  xuas 
"  (Sdr2,294,i09  dollars."  The  writer  adds,  this,  "  it  is 
"  prefumed,  bears  a  relative  proportion  in  amount,  to 
•'  the  exports  of  other  years."     Page  78. 

It  thus  appears,  although  Boflon  has  diAurbcd  the 
tranquility  of  the  United  States  by  her  impafTioned  com- 
plaints on  the  fubjert  of  commerce,  and  the  injury  it 
i'uftained  by  the  hoflility  of  the  fouthern  Rates,  that  for 
confiderably  more  than  half  of  tlie  American  articles  she 
exports,  fhc  is  indebted  to  thofe  ftates.  She  moreover 
finds  an  invaluable  market  with  them  for  the  chief  part 
ot  her  numenfe  foreign  importations,  and  for  her  valua- 
ble manufaQures. 

It  really  makes  my  heart  ach'j  with  vexation,  to  find 
fuch  mighty,  fuch  ruinous  errors  prevailing  on  thofe 
nnportant  topics — errors  that  have  generated  the  mod 
baleful  pafhons,  which  are  hourly  increafing  by  artificial 
excitements  and  threaten  us  with  the  mod  awful  confc- 
quences, 


t.%.  ^W*^«*.*-k»-*v.  . 


^^*f<MVV* 


Ws 


5:4 


THE    OLIVE    BUANWrt. 


'ii: 


t| 

is,' 

1 

i»-v 

J 

The  reader  muft  not  be  fuiprircd  it  I  often  repeat  this 
fentinient.  For  '■  Out  ot  the  abundance  ot  the  heart  the 
mouth  fpeaketh" — and  bemg  eon\  ini.ed  this  is  beyond  all 
conipaiilon  the  moll  awful  daiigei  that  tinratens  us,  it  is 
not  to  be  wondered  at,  that  it  engrolles  To  huge  a  portion 
of  my  attention. 

I  lliall  conclude  this  topie  with  one  obrervalion,that  as 
tar  as  my  knowledge  extends, or  as  far  as  I  am  capable  of 
judging,  there  has  rarely  oecuricd  an  inilance  ol  one  na- 
iioi\  To  very  highly  indebted  to  another  as  the  eallern  llatos 
aic  to  thefouthern,  and  yet  making  luch  a  very  milerable 
and  ungrateful  return. 

Tonna«;e. 

Boflon  which  has  maintained  fuch  high  commercial 
claims,  on  the  ground  of  her  exjjorts  and  imports  has 
likt'Wile  preferred  high  claims  on  her  tranfcendent  iupe- 
ricntv  in  point  of  fliipping.  Thefe  towering  claims  arc 
unlounded,  although  not  in  the  fame  degree  with  tiie 
relK  Let  the  reader  decide  1  have  betore  me,  a  flatc- 
ment  of  the  tonnage  of  the  United  States  for  two  years, 
from  which  I  make  a  few  extrads,  in  order  to  inter  thelo 
pretenfions  in  the  fame  grave  with  the  others. 


Tonnage  of 

Boston, 

New  York. 

Philadelphia, 

Baltimore, 

Portland, 

Portsmouth, 

Bath, 

Ncwburyport, 

Salem, 

Norfolk, 

Charleston, 


1809 

i33'257 

243.-538 
121,443 

102,434 

32,007 

277'9 

23.033 

36.574 

43537 
40.040 

50.819 


1840 

149,121 
268,548 
125,258 

103.444 

32.599 
28.820 

20,344 
39,100 

41,462 
47.643 

52,bt)8 


From  the  above  ftatement  it  appears  that  in  the  year 
1810,  the  tonnage  of  Norfolk  and  Charlefton  was 
con hdei ably  fuperior  to  that  of  any  port  in  the  eaft- 
erii   or  middle   flates  except  Bofton,    New  York,  and 


..^.^ , 


■^*^?^'=^-''?R^'^«'!?!^P^-''. 


THE   OLIVE    BRANCH. 


27S 


repeat  tliis 
e  heart  tlic 
beyond  all 
lis  us,  It  is 
re  a  portion 

ilion.tliat  as 
n  capable  ot 
oV  one  na- 
NilU-rn  ilatos 
ry  milerable 


commercial 
niports,  has 
i-nilent  iiipe- 
T  claims  arc 
ee  with  tiie 
mc,  a  (latc- 
r  two  years, 
to  inter  thele 

• 

0 

21 

,548 
,258 

,444 

,'3«9 
.820 

»344 
,100 

,462 
.643 

in  the  year 
lefton    was 
in  the  eaft- 
,v  York,  and 


Phihi'lelphia ;  and  that  the  tonnage  of  Baltimore  was 
more  than  double  thatot  any  port  in  thceailcrn  Hates,  ex- 
cept Boston. 


CHAP.  XXXIV. 

^Inoiher  source  of  excitemrnt  amon^  Hip.  enfttprn  ftfafef;. 
JJntics  0)1  impurta.  StatisticH.  Sout/u'rn  states  pni/ 
very  nearly  an  much  as  the  eastern,     tVondevjul  delusion, 

Thofc  men  whofe  unccafing  efforts  have  been  employ- 
ed to  excite  the  palTions  ot  the  yeomanry  ot  the  eallern 
dates,  and  prepaic  them  toi  infurrect  on  and  a  diHV)lution 
ot  the  union,  iiave  raifed  a  great  clamour  on  the  ful)jefck 
ot  the  enormous  amount  ot  duties  paid  by  thole  itates, 
and  the  inhgnificance  ot  the  fums  paid  by  the  fouthern 
fection  ot  the  nation.  They  thence  inter  the  injijllice 
and  the  inequality  ot  the  union,  and  its  opprellivc  opera- 
tion upon  the  tormer  fetHon, 

This  item  ot  complaint  is,  if  pofTible,  more  fallacious 
than  the  one  difculFed  in  the  preceding  chapter.     The  dif- 
advantage  is  all  oi\  the  other  fide  of  the  queftion.     The 
eaftern  Rates  import  largely  from  Europe,   and  the  Eafl 
and  Weft   Indies,  for  the  fupply  of  the  fouthern   ftates. 
Tt»e  tormer,  it  is  true,  have  to  bond  or  pay  the  duties  in 
the  firft  inftance.     This  appears  wonderfully  to  their  ad- 
vantage  in  the  tables  ot  duties.     But  it  can  hardly  be 
neceffary  to  inform  the  reader  that  the  mei chant   who 
bonds  the  duties  is  not  the  actual  payer    .i  them.     The 
late  M«.  *  •  *  •  *  of  this  city,   paid   dutic     on  probably 
500,000  dollars'  worth  of  imported  goods  annually  ;  but 
did  not  confuine  1000  dollais'  worth.     Who  could  be  fo 
ignorant  as  to  pretend,  that  the  government  was  beholden 
to  him  for  the  amount  of  the  duties !  They  weie  paid  by 
the   farmers  in   Chester,  and  Bucks,  and  Delaware,  and 
Berks  counties.     The  duties  are  added  by  the  merchant 
to  the  firft   coft,  with  a  piofiton  both — and  the  ultimate 
consumer  is  the  real  payer. 


^■i^'  ;\\ 


M 


\('    ! 


m 


.  .'1 


ivi 


Vs^/a 


^m 


r^ 


:ro 


THE    OLIVE    RRANCn. 


TIjc  caflcrri  ilatcs  levy  taxes  in  this  u'ay  not  merely  oi; 
Miiiyhmd,  Virginia,  North  and  South  Carolina  and 
Gcorgi:i,  but  even  on  l*ennfylvania  ;  tor  ftrange  as  it  may 
feeni,  it  is  ncveithelels  true,  that  nofvvithftanding  the  ini- 
menfe  vvcalth,  tlie  ardt'iit  entei prize,  and  the  great  eom- 
mcreial  advantages  ol'  Phihulclphia,  innnoderate  quantities 
ot  Kail  India  and  Chineie  goods  are  fent  from  Boflon, 
Silcm,  and  other  eallern  ports,  lor  fale  here. 

But  even,  indL-ju'tident  ot  the  import-ition  of  the  eaflern 
for  the  ("outhern  Hates,  tiie  argument  is  unlairly  ftated. 
If  tlic  former  af:lualjy  conrumcd  all  the  toreign  articles 
they  import,  the  duties  tliey  pay  compared  with  thofe  paid 
by  the  (outhein  ftates  will  not  warrant  their  liolding  the 
high,  aiul  arrogant,  and  commanding  tone  they  have  al- 
ways a  {fumed. 

To  enahle  the  reader  to  form  a  correft  opinion  on  the 
ful  j>;i:l,  I  aimex  a  let  of  tables  of  the 

t/W^  nmnunt  of  dniios  paid  by  the  different  States  from  the 
i/ear  1791  to  1812  incliifiive,  taken  from  the  recorda  of 
the  treasury  department^  and  mihmitted  to  congress  by 
Jot^epk  JS^ourse.  Esq.  res'ister  of  the  treasury. 


1 

s 

JV>w  TIampsfdre 

Vermont. 

Connecticut. 

Ji.  hhwd. 

im 

1       l'"-^! 

5.3  000 

206  000 

146  000 

S   ,        1792 

41.000 

142  000 

46.000 

1          1793 

44  000 

154,000 

133.000 

1           1794 

38,000 

1,000 

171  000 

89,000 

1 .          1795 

44.000 

155.000 

244,000 

'  -1 

1           1796 

53.000 

1.000 

141  000 

137000 

1 

Jl          J797 

27.000 

115  000 

276  000 

1 

il          1798 

72,000 

1>000 

127.000 

104  000 

V 

1799 

99.000 

2  000 

289  000 

260  000 

1800 

142  000 

2,000 

169  000 

393  000 

1801 

133  000 

328  000 

284  O(J0 

1          1802 

119,000 

262  000 

178  000 

1          1803 

122,000 

1,000 

301  000 

366  OUO 

■  a 

f          1804 
',          1805 

108,000 

348  000 

421  ooa 

109  000 

354  000 

3,262,000 

34^^  '.100 

f  ■ 

1,204,000 

8,000 

3,426,000 

THE   OLIVK   nUANC!!, 


merely  oi; 
rolina  and 
ge  as  it  may 
liiig  tlic  Ini- 
^KMt  com- 
tc  quantities 
oni  Bt)Ron, 

f  the  caftern 
.lirlv  Itatcd. 
C'ijrn  articles 
h  thole  paid 
holding  the 
iCy  have  al- 

nion  on  the 


itcs  from  the 

he  recor(h  of 

congress  hij 

y- 

R.  Island. 
146  000 
46.000 
133,000 
89.000 
244,000 
137000 
276  000 
104  000 
260  000 
393  OOO 
284  000 
178  000 
366  OOO 
An  009 
34^^  000 

3,426,000 


r: 


^/Vew  lfnm!>thire.         Vermont.      Cvmiecticut. 

It,  hlautl. 

.tivou^'/it  fiji-.t'iivd 

i;-:o4  000 

8,000          ^  263,000 

.1,426,000 

18f;6 

n7,0CK) 

;52.i 

,000 

:;6 1,000 

1807 

99,000 

314000 

123,000 

1808 

19.000 

197 

,000 

270.000 

1809 

39,000 

9,000              ]J9,0(J0 

35,000 

1810 

53,000 

y.OOO              167,(JOO 

435,000 

1811 

62,000 

5,000              "240,000 

318,000 

1812 

122,000 

116,000              829  000 

•452  000 

1,715  000 

147,000           5.463 

000 

5,420  f)00 

• 

Mtissnr/in.tells 

.V.    Vnrk 

Pcnnntilvdni: 

tl/nnilitnrf. 

/.■'•       Id. 

1791 

S   977,000 

1,564.000 

1.491,000 

641"  000 

8.51  000 

17^'2 

678  000 

1,169  000 

1.096,000 

449.000 

474  000 

1793 

950  000 

1,195.000 

1,804.000 

869.000 

388  000 

3794 

1.004  000 

1,860,000 

1,473  000 

795  000 

389  000 

1795 

1,415,000 

2,000  000 

2.271,000 

523,000 

396  000 

1796 

1,334  000 

2,158,000 

2,012000 

761,000 

598  OoO 

n97 

1,372  000 

2059.000 

l,74.v000 

1.115.000 

606.000 

1798 

1,168,000 

1.743  000 

1,029  000 

885  000 

629  UOO 

1799 

1,607,000 

2,373.000 

1.259,000 

1,161  000 

896,000 

1800 

1,974,000 

2,741  000 

1.350  000 

623  000 

644  000 

1801 

2,929,000 

3,810.000 

2  123  000 

1,001.000 

746  000 

1802 

1,525,000 

2  490,000 

1,410,000 

6.34  000 

689  000 

1803 

2,490.000 

3  524,000 

1,655.000 

936  000 

713  000 

1804 

4,630.000 

3,872,000 

2,609.000 

1  .538  000 

902  OoO 

1805 

3,308  000 

4.882,000 

2,300.000 

1,130,000 

805.000 

1806 

3  524,000 

4.875.000 

3017.000 

1.446  000 

620  000 

1807 

3,576,000 

4.926  000 

3.162  000 

1.633  000 

506.000 

1808 

1,184  000 

2,764.000 

1,647,090 

588.000 

110  000 

1809 

1,384.000 

2981,000 

1,405,000 

155.000 

257.000 

1810 

2,774,000 

4,419,000 

2.539,000 

928  000 

461  000 

1811 

1,816,000 

1,979,000 

1.840,000 

722.000 

195,000 

1812 

2,719,000 

2,890,000 

2.090,000 

1,782,000 

690  000 

43,338.000 

62,274,000 

41,225,000 

20,345,000 

12  565.000 

JN*  Cnrn'inn. 

S.  Carolina. 

Ceorrfia. 

Columbia. 

Orleans. 

1791 

S  115,000 

538,000 

91.000 

1792 

78,000 

360,000 

53.000 

1793 

63,000 

359,000 

35,000 

1794 

78,000 

651,000 

87.000 

1795 

99,000 

710,000 

54,000 

1796 

68,000 

56000 

31.000 

1797 

105,000 

700.000 

62  000 

606.000   3,374,000    41.3,000 

24 


( 


t  ' 


.)) 


ii 


'  ■'  'M 


Uw 


K 


ll  V' 


\{ 


I 


Or  ought 

1798 
1799 
IBOU 
1801 
IHO'2 
180.] 
1804 
J  80  J 
1806 
1807 
1808 
1809 
1810 
1811 
1812 


(Jtifolina. 

foyiiuiril 

606,000 

120.000 

lol.OOO 

126,000 

125  000 

252  000 

159,000 

186  000 

165  000 

202  000 

196,000 

16  000 

65,000 

58.000 

44  000 

47,000 


HIE   OMVE   BHANrir 

« 

S.  Ciirolina. 

t/eoreia. 

Columbia. 

OrUaii*. 

3,374,000 

413,000 

239,000 

858  000 

1,159.000 

1  002  (JOO 

663.000 

94.000 

280  000 

211  000 

133,000 

646  000 

182,000 

143,000 

718.000 

180  000 

128.000 

279.000 

843,000 

95  000 

119,000 

342.000 

871,000 

183,000 

137.000 

561  000 

735,000 

489,000 

123.000 

480  000 

225.000 

35,000 

20,000 

77,000 

377  000 

6  000 

60.000 

134  000 

567.000 

134  000 

50,000 

244  000 

338  000 

56  000 

4.5  000 

14H  000 

433  000 

260.000 

80,000 

137.000 

2,521,000     12,665,000      2,907,000     1,132,000     2  20^000 


(^  In  thefc  tables,  as  in  thofe  of  exports,  there  is  no 
account  taken  of  any  fums  below  looo  liolbirs,  Tlii.s 
operating  equally  on  both  fides,  cannot  afTcdl  the  compa- 
rifon,  which  is  the  obje6l  in  view. 

From  the  foregoing  tables,  the  following  refults  appear, 

I.  The  fouthern  Hates  have  paid  nearly  as  much  duties 
to  the  government  as  the  eaflcrn. 


Mnrylitntl 

Virj'ini.'* 

Noiili  (Carolina 

South  Carolina 

GeorgiH 

Columbia 

Ui'lcans 


Massachusett.s 
New  Hampshire 
Vermont 
Coiineclicut 
IlhoJe  Island 


20,.'?45,000 
1'J,5C5,0(I0 
2,  .5  CI, 000 
12,665,000 
2,907,000 
1.1.32,000 
2;202,000 


1,715,000 

147.000 

5,46.3.000 

5  420,000 


54,337,000 
43,338,000 


12,745.000 
56,083,000 


THE    OMVF,    It  It  A  NC II. 


ar% 


Ha.      Oi'Udiis. 


)00 

)00 

KJO 

JOO 

279,000 

JOO 

?)42.um 

JOO 

30\  001) 

JOO 

4«0  000 

uoo 

77,000 

JOO 

lo4  000 

JUO 

244  000 

JOO 

14H  000 

000 

137.000 

000     2  20. >  000 


II.  The  finglc  fl.itc  oi   South  Carolina  paid   nearly  as 
much  duties  as  tlic  tour  nunor  cailcrn  Hates. 

Soutli  (Carolina »'J,r.ri5,<'f)0 

I'tjiir  New  Ehgluiitl  itikies  Cscc  No.  1.)  li, 745,0^)0 

III.  Orleans  paid  more  in  nine  years  than  New  Ilanip- 
{hire  and  Verniont  in  twenty  two. 

Oilfiiii*  ....  1I,'302,000 

Ni'w  llaiiipHliiru         •  •  l.7l'>)*"*') 

Vcnuoul  -  -  -  147,000 

— — i,8Ga,00O 

IV.  Vir^^inia  paid  1,5  per  cent  more  than  Coimeclicut 
and  Rhode  Uland. 

Viiginia  -  -  -  -  l'j,5G'j,000 

OoHnciiiciit  •  -  5.4r).'),()00 

Rhode  ImIuiiJ         ...  5,130,000 

10,88.1,000 

V.  New  York  and  Pennfylvania  paid  nearly  ninety  per 
cent  more  than  the  five  cailcrn  Hates. 

New  York  -  -  ().',274,000 

Pennsylvania  -  -         4l,i2.'i,o(io 

10.1,49<),000 

Five  eastern  stales  (No.  1.)  ....         .'j(i,o83,ouo 

VI.  South  Carolina  paid  more  than  twice  the  amount 
of  duties  paid  by  either  Conne6.licut  or  Rhode  Ifland. 

South  Carolina  ....  )2,()65,0()U 

Connecticut  -  -  .  .  _         5,46J,<ioo 

Rhode  Island  ....  5,'t2o,<jou 

Synopsis  of  duties  jmid  from  1791  to  ISliJ.  " 

Eastern  Section,  xMUldle  Section,  Southern  Section. 

IMarylund  3o,345,ooo 

Vir{;inia  li,.'i6.5,o()0 

Mass.              43,338,000                                              N.  Car.  2,J'2l,oo(» 

N.  tlamp.       J, 7 1 5, 000  N.  Jersey       259,000  S.  Cur.  l2,Citt.">,ooo 

Vermont              147,000  Delawure     l,22J,ooo  Georgia  2,917,000 

Connect.         5,463,000  N.  York    62,274,000  Columbia  l,lJi,ooo 

R.Island         5,420,000   Pennsyl.    4l,225,ooo  Orleuus  2,202,000 


I* 


h    t 


* 


11' 


;  li 


§56,083,000 


J5  104,981,000 


S  54,337,000 


..^.  .»■<  ^ 


M 


2S0 


THE    OLIVE    BKAKew. 


Thofe  who  confiderthe  very  expenfive  habits  of  tlic 
pointers  of  Virginia  and  South  Carolina,  and  the  im- 
nicnfe  amount  ot  foreign  goods  received  in  tliofe  flate'-, 
Irom  the  eaftern  ftates,  as  well  as  from  New  York,  Penn- 
lyivania,  and  Maryland,  asd  iiow  very  large  a  proportion  of 
the  goods  imported  by  Maifachufetts  is  exported  to  the 
other  ftates,  will  probably  be  led  to  believe,  that  Virginia 
and  South  Carolina  a6lually  confume  each  as  much  of 
dutiable  articles,  and  of  courfe  pay  as  much  duties,  as 
Manachufctts.  I  acknowledge  this  is  but  a  rough  calcu- 
lation. But  a  due  confideration  of  the  great  number  of 
coafters  which  in  time  of  peace,  are  conftantly  plyincr 
horn  the  ports  of  the  eaftern  and  middle  to  thofe  of  the 
fouthern  ftates,  will  afford  a  ftrongfupport  to  this  opinion. 
A  very  large  proportion  of  the  cargoes  of  the  coafters 
bound  to  the  fouthern  ports  is  impoi ted  goods  ;  and  the 
vefidue  generally  articles  of  domeftic  manufafture.  The 
return  cargoes  are  all  of  raw  materials  for  thefe  manufac- 
tures, or  articles  of  the  higheft  value  for  e.xportation  to 
Europe  and  elfewhere.  It  is  not  eafy  to  conceive  of  a 
more  advantageous  commerce  tor  the  mother  countries, 
as,  in  this  cale,  the  middle  and  eaftern  ftates  may  be  juftiy 
jiyled.  I  repeat  it,  and  hope  the  folemn  truth  will  be 
borne  in  conftant  remembrance,  that  the  fouthern  ftates 
are  virtually  colonies  to  thofe  ftates  whofe  demagogues 
have  never  cealcd  flandering  and  perfecuting  them. 

I  difmifs  this  part  of  my  fubjeft,  I  hope  for  ever.  I 
truft  that  the  moft  incorrigible  effrontery  will  never  dare 
again  to  hazard  an  afiertion  of  the  commercial  fuperiority 
of  the  eaftern  ftates.  ,' 


I  HE    OLIVE    bUANvlH. 


2HI 


CHAP.  XXXV. 


Falldcij  of  the  opinion  of  any  hostility  in  the  Southern 
against  the  Eastern  States.  Commercial  and  Jigricul- 
tural  states  mutually  dependent  on,  and  benejiciul  to  each 
other. 

Having  fettled  the  que  (lion  on  the  fubjeft  of  the  com- 
parative chiims  of  the  different  fe^lions  of  the  nnion  tc* 
commercial  advantages,  I  proceed  to  confider  the  pofi- 
llons,  which  aflert  the  necelfary  hoftllity  of  an  agricultu- 
ral foftlon  of  a  countrv  to  a  commercial  one — tlie  a6tual 
exillence  of  that  holllllty  in  the  fouthern  Hates — and  its 
baneful  influence  on  the  meafures  of  congrcfs. 

Never  lince  fatlion  lirft  dillurbed  the  peace  of  mankind, 
and  m  ide  tills  eaith  a  fuitahle  abode  lor  demons  incarnate, 
did  (he  employ  a  more  hollow,  hdlacious,  or  unfounded 
pretext,  to  jullify  her  lavvlefs  proceedings,  than  is  here  to 
be  combated.  It  is  not  ir.ercly  untrue  :  it  is  the  reverfe 
of  truth — it  has  not  even  the  fliadow  ot"  plaufibility. 

Let  us  for  a  moment  fuppofe,  for  fake  of  argument, 
that  tiie  eaftern  ftates  are,  as  tliev  pretend  tobe,cxclurively 
v^omrr  .^rcial — and  that  the  fouthern  are  exclulively  agri- 
cultural. This  is  placing  the  cafe  in  the  moft  advanta- 
geous point  of  light  its  friends  c^uld  delirc.  Could 
there  be  any  Ihonger  bond  of  affinity  between  two  na- 
tions, or  two  feftions  of  the  fame  nation,  than  the  mutual 
wants  which  this  fuppofcd  cafe  implies  ?  The  agricultural 
portion  would  have  imperious  neccffity  tor  the  (hips,  the 
feamen,  md  the  capital  of  ihe  connnercial  portion,  foi; 
the  purchafe  and  tranfportation  of  her  fuperfluous  pro- 
duftions.  And  the  navigation  and  capital  of  the  com- 
mercial portion  would  find  all  the  advantages  they  could 
recjiMre  in  the  tranfportation  and  fale  of  the  prodiiOions 
of  the  other. 

24* 


.':»;'»J 


THE    OI.IVK    BliANCH. 


w 

^i! 

''^■'^IBJt^ 

W^' 

;l||l|p| 

;■  IPj 

11 

»R  j 

fill ' 

p.- 


The  agricultural  portion,  as  I  have  already  flateci. 
would  be  merely  in  the  fitu.ition  ot  colonies  to  the  com- 
mercial. What  has  alwavs  been  the  grand  advant^sge  (;t 
colonies  to  paref.t  countries  p  Merely  to  increale  their 
nav;t(;iioii — to  tiirnilh  raw  materials  tor  the  employment 
of  their  aitifans  and  inanuta^birers — and  to  purchafe  tlie 
proflu/itions  ot  the  I  ;i)ouis  ot  thofe  artifans  and  manu- 
iaftiirers. 

It  therefore  irrenilihiy  follows,  that  Virginia,  North 
and  South  Carolina,  Gxori^ia,  and  the  weflern  ftates,  hav(? 
literally  been  hut  colonies  to  the  middle,  and  more  paiti- 
culariy  to  the  eallern  O.iies.  The  hardy  and  enterprifiny 
Vankees  pervade  every  bay,  river,  creek,  and  inlet  of  the 
fouthern  flatcs  ;  and  for  their  notions  carry  off  the  folid 
loin  ot  t!;e  couutjy  ht  replenilh  their  coffers.  They 
every  where  nndeifeli  and  undermine  the  eitablilhed 
louthern  ftorekeepers.  Moreover,  the  cotton,  the  rice, 
the  flour,  the  tobacco,  and  the  naval  llores  of  the  caflern 
{fates,  has'e  enabled  the  fliip  owners  to  amafs  thofe  over- 
,(»rown  nabob  fortunes,  which  render  them  too  afpiring  to 
fubmit  to  the  equal  form  of  government  which  we  en- 
joy. They  have  literally  lived  upon  the  induflry  of  the 
ealfern  ftates.  Without  them  their  feftion  of  the  union 
wo!jld  rank  very  low  indeed  in  the  fcale  of  nations. 

This  ftate  of  things,  fo  eminently  advantageous  to  the 
eanern  ftates,  has  never  created  faction,  or  complaint,  or 
convulfions,  or  threats  ot  difTolving  the  union,  in  the 
iouthern.  They  have  cheerfully  fupported  a  government 
vvhofe  cliief  attention  has  been  direfcled  to  the  promotion 
of  commerce — and  whicfi  never  did  and  never  would 
have  experienced  any  very  great  difficulty  with  foreign 
Jiations  but  from  the  cupidity  of  the  mercantile  intereU. 

It  requires  little  elTort  to  prove,  and  little  capacity  to 
perceive,  that  there  is  a  commercial  rivalry  between  Maf- 
fachufetts  and  Rhode  Ifland — between  Philadelphia  and 
New  York— between  Baltimore  and  Philadelphiao  Bufc 
that  a  ferious  thinking  people,  like  thofe  of  the  eaftern 
ftates,  fhould  have  ever  been  duped  to  believe  that  there 
is  any  real  c^Ajfe  of  jealoufy  and  hoflility  between  the 


^-4« 


THE    OLIVE  BUANCil. 


QS3 


C4)mmercul  and  afrricultural  fefttons  of  t'le  country,  is  a 
tolly,  of  which  it  is  liardly  poUiblc  to  fine!  a  parallel  in 
the  h-{'  /  oi  the  madnefs  and  idiocy  of  the  human 
fpecies. 

To  view  the  fuhj:*^^  once  more — aitliough  it  really 
does  not  deferve  further  attention.  Suppofe  flill  the 
fouthcrn  ftdtes  wholly  acrricuituidl,  and  the  middle  and 
eadern  wholly  commercial,  and  that  the  former  have  an 
overwhelming  majority  in  the  legillature  of  the  union. 
How  could  it  ever  enter  into  the  mind  of  any  rational  be- 
ing to  fuppofe,  that  the  majority  could  for  a  moment  be 
ignorant  ot  the  plain  truth,  tiiat  every  ftroke  aimed  at 
commerce  was  a  Iboke  at  their  own  vital  interells  ? 

It  is  well  known,  that  the  reprefentatives  of  the  fouthern 
and  weftern  ftates  are  generally  gentlemen  ol  the  high- 
eit  grade  ot  talents  in  congrefs.  Fiom  caufes  which  it  is 
neither  necefTary  nor  proper  here  to  detail,  the  middle 
Hates  have  not  made  as  refpeflable  a  figure  in  that  body 
as  could  have  been  wifhed.  Tiie  eaftern  have  not  been 
(j'iite  fo  unfortunate.  It  requires,  however,  but  a  mode- 
rate  portion  of  candour  to  acknowledge,  that  although 
tliey  occafionally  (end  to  congrefs  men  of  confiilerable 
talents,  they  are  on  the  aggregate  far  below  Virginia, 
South  Carolina,  and  Kentucky.  And  could  this  plain 
truth  efcape  the  Eppefes,  the  Gilefes,  the  Clays,  and  the 
Popes,  that  it  was  impoflible  to  injure  commerce  without 
inflifting  an  equal  injury  on  agriculture  ? 

The  agricultural  poition  of  this  great  nation  could  in- 
finitely better  difpenfe  with  the  commercial,  than  the  lat- 
ter with  the  former.  Never  fince  commerce  firft  began, 
ilid  a  nation,  having  bulky  raw  materials  to  fell,  and  hav- 
ing demands  for  large  quantities  of  merchandize,  find 
any  difficulty  in  creating  a  marine,  or,  aniidft  naval  com- 
petitors for  her  trade,  in  fecuring  the  tranfpoitation  of 
her  commodities,  and  the  purchafe  ot  merchandize,  on 
fair  and  advantageous  terms.  But  the  decay  of  Portugal, 
Venice,  Genoa,  the  Hanfe  Towns,  and  other  great  com- 
mercial ftates,  provesilhat  a  nation  poflelfed  of  a  confid- 


I  f 


fc;/ 


-*■•—' 


,■' 


Mi 


m 


.    v1 


ii. 


2S4i 


THE  OLIVE    nllA^fCIf. 


enable  marine,  may,  it  it  affront  or  oF'^nd  the  nation?. 
on  which  it  depends,  be  reduced  to  its  lidlivcdnct  intrin- 
fic  infignificance. 

The  eaftern  ftatcs  labour  under  very  great  difadvan- 
tages.  l^he  Iterihtsof  their  foil  will  leave  them  eter- 
nally dependent  upon  the  fouthern  ftates  ;  for  their  fitua. 
tion  imperiouily  forces  them  to  have  recourfe  to  manu- 
faclures  and  commerce.  Their  agriculture  muft  always 
be  comparatively  iniignificant.  They  therefore,  I  repeat, 
owe  their  greatnefs  principally  to  the  immenfely  valuable 
trade  they  carry  on  with  thofe  ftates,  which  their  ungrate- 
ful writers  and  demagogues  are  conftantly  vilifying  and 
abufmg,  and  which  afford  the  principal  pabulum  for  the 
commerce  of  the  middle  and  eaftern  dates.  Thofe  de- 
magogues are,  as  I  have  ftated,  unceafingly  exciting  ani- 
mofities  between  the  two  fe6lions  of  the  union  by  pre- 
tending a  rivalry  of  intereft,  which  is  wholly  unfounded. 
There  is,  I  repeat,  real  caufe  of  jealoufy  between  Rhode 
Ifland  and  Maffachufetts  :  but  none  between  either  of 
them  and  Viroinla  or  South  Carolina.  The  latter  are 
and  will  probably  forever  continue  great  agricultural 
ftates.  Their  immenfe  and  growing  produtVions  will 
find  the  moft  valuable  employment  for  the  fhipping 
and  for  the  manufaftures  of  the  eaftern  and  middle 
ftates. 

Should  a  reparation  take  place,  which  I  hope  and  truft 
in  the  goodnefs  of  heaven  is  far  remote,  the  eaftern  ftates 
will  repent  itfirft  and  laft.  They  will  have  reafon  eter- 
nally  to  curfe  the  unhallowed  counfels  of  thofe  reftlefs 
demagogues,  who  ftiall  have  plunged  them  in  the  abyfs 
of  ruin.  Their  hardy  fons  who  now  migrate  to  the 
fouthward  and  weftward  by  hundreds,  will  abandon  their 
native  foil  by  thoufands — and  daily  add  ftrength  to  the 
rival  fetlion  of  the  nation,  and  equally  enfeeble  the  parent 
ftates.  The  latter  will  dwindle  into  the  infignificance 
from  which  they  have  been  elevated  by  the  tribute  they 
have  levied  upon  Virginia  and  her  fouthern  fifters. 

The  horrors  of  an  immediate  CIVIL  WAR,  and  of 
a  conftant  BORDER  WAR,  fuck  as  forimrly  ex\Jhd 


kt 


THE   OLIVK  BRANCi:. 


2S3 


he  nation?. 
(iud  intiin^ 

t  difadvan- 
tlieni  etei- 
their  fitua- 
:  to  nianU' 
null  always 
re,  I  repeat, 
?ly  valuable 
eir  ungrate- 
ilifyuig  and 
lum  to:  the 

Thole  dc 
■xciting  ani- 
lion  by  pre- 
untoundcd. 
veen  Rhode 
n  either  ot 
le   latter  are 

agricultural 
lifelions  will 
he  Ihipping 
and   middle 

36  and  trull 
a  Hern  Hates 
real'on  eter- 
lofe  relDefs 
n  the  abyfs 
grate  to  the 
)andon  their 
ngth  to  the 
e  the  parent 
fignificance 
tribute  they 
(lers. 
AR,  and  oi; 
nerly  exjied 


s/ctwcen  En<Jand  and  Scotland,  are  the  only  confidcra- 
tions  that  render  a  jeparation  from  Majjachujcfts  a  mta- 
fure  to  be  at  all  deprecated.  IVere  we  injured  from  thefe 
two  evils,  the  expul/ion  of  that  Hate  from  the  union  would 
be  a  meajure  of  ju/tue,  propriety  and  advantage.  It 
would  be  an  advantage  to  the  reft  of  tlie  nation.  She  has 
haralFed  the  national  councils  to  a  moll  intolciabJe  and 
Ihametul  degree. 

She  fcems  determined,  if  fie  cannet  rule  the  country 
herplf  to  fend  it  to  dejlruclion  headlong.  She  has  been 
{t)r  years  a  curfe  and  a  fcourge  to  the  union.  We  Ihould 
not  have  had  war  J3ut  for  her*.  And  among  the  features 
oi  the  prcfent  cri-fis,  the  moll  lamentable  one  is,  that  Ihe 
lunnot  fuirer  the  punilhment  due  to  her  follv,  her  arro- 
gance, her  reflleltnefs,  her  faftion,  her  j icobinilm,  her 
anti  Wafliingtonifm,  without  inflifting  an  equal  de- 
gree of  misfortune  on  her  innocent  neighbours.  Could 
Ihe  be  made  to  fufFer  alone,  it  were  "  a  conjummation  mojt 
devoutly  to  be  wifhed."  A  llrong  navigation  a£l,  and  dil". 
eliminating  duties,  would  foon  briiig  her  to  her  fenfes, 
and  convince  her  oi  the  immeafurable  tolly  and  madnefs 
(he  has  been  guilty  of.  They  would  fink  her  to  her  pro- 
per level — that  level,  which  her  ungrateful  foil — her  in-' 
iignificance  in  point  of  population — and  the  narrow 
limits  of  her  territory,  prelcribe — and  which,  I  repeat, 
nothing  but  the  advantages  flie  has  derived  from  her 
perfecuted,  infulted,  outraged,  and  defamed  fifter  ftates, 
lould  have  enabled  her  to  pafs.  She  would  repent  of 
her  infatuation,  and  moll  anxioufly  fcek  to  be  rellored  to 
a  confederacy,  on  the  major  part  of  which  Ihe  had  un- 
.:caringly  levied  heavy  contributions,  and  to  which  fhe 
owed  all  that  profperity,  that  weahh,  and  that  affluence, 

*  This  nssertien  lins  bren  cnvillf?(l  n(  by  ^  Boston  writer,  but  not 
refuted.  Boston,  by  ber  juruhiiiical  opposition  to  Ibe  poaccablc  nua- 
surcs  udopUMl  to  obtiiin  frum  Enj^bind  tb<it  rctircss  for  ubieb  sbc  her- 
si'lf  ba«l  so  loniliy  impNtred  tbe  inlerfcieuce  of  poTcrninent — and  liy 
Iter  cxritement  of  a  similar  opposition  tbiou'jboiit  I  bo  tasttMti  stBl*s 
ut'ufially,  defeated  Ibosc  mcasiites — encouraged  England  lo  proc.td 
ill  her  outrages— wbicb  finally  led  lo  war. 


)f 


i. 


m 


I  • 


f 


w 


V      ^  V' 


2SB 


THE   OLIVE    BRANCH. 


which  had  rendered  her  dizzy,  inflated  her  with  pride  and 
arrogance,  and  brought  on  iier  downialJ. 


CHAP.  XXXVI. 


•Money  the  sinews  of  ivar.  ^.Associations  to  prevent  the. 
success  of  the  loans.  Efforts  to  bankrupt  the  govern- 
ment. Large  drafts  of  specie  on  A'ew  York  from 
Boston.  Understanding  between  certain  persons  in  Bus- 
ton  and  government  of  Canada.  British  government 
bills.  Treason  in  United  States.  High  treason  in 
England.    Misprision  of  treason.    Hanging,  drawing 


and  quarterin 


'S' 


Money  has  long  been  proverbially  fly  led  the  fmews 
ot  war.  It  is  no  mifnomer.  Soldiers  cannot  be  raifed — 
nor  put  in  motion — nor  arrayed  in  the  field  of  battle, 
without  money  to  clothe  and  to  ieed  them.  A  govern- 
ment at  war,  and  deflitute  of  funds  or  credit,  muft  fuc- 
cumb  to  its  adverfary— bend  the  neck  to  the  yoke — make 
humble  fubmiflion — and  receive  the  law  from  the  con- 
queror. To  thefe  truths  hiftory  bears  ample  and  uniiorm 
teftimony. 

Under  this  impreflion,  fliortly  after  the  declaration  of 
war,  there  was  a  combination  formed  to  prevent  the  fuc- 
cefs  of  the  loans  authorifed  by  congrefs.  I  believe  that 
nearly  all  thofe  who  entered  into  this  fcheme  refided  in 
the  eaftern  ftates,  particularly  in  Bollon,  which  was  the 
grand  focus  of  the  confpiracy. 

There  never  was  a  meafure,  however  atrocious,  but 
there  was  a  plaufible  plea  invented  to  palliate  or  juftiiy 
its  enormit^^  This  high  handed  confjiiracy  to  deftroy 
the  credit  of  the  government  of  their  country,  which 
originated  among  the  "  moral  and  religious  people"  of 
Bolton,  was  predicated  upon  two  pofitions  : 

Fii  ft,  that  England  was,  and  had  always  been  willing 
to  make  a  treaty  with   us  on  fair  and  honorable  terms ; 


,.nij.r'  -/■''^?  iil«fc.^- 


THE    OLIVE    BnANCH. 


2sr 


ith  pride  and 


prevent  the 
the  govern- 
}  York  from 
irsons  in  Bos- 
i  government 
-h  treason  in 


ing, 


drawing 


led  the  fmews 
lot  be  raifed — 
eld  of  battle, 
I.  A  govern- 
dit,  muft  fuc- 
e  yoke — make 
from  the  con- 
c  and  uniform 

declaration  ot 
event  the  fuc- 
I  believe  that 
erne  refided  in 
which  was  the 

atrocious,  but 
iate  or  juftity 

cy  to  deftroy 
ountry,  whjcii 
3US  people"  of 

• 

'S  been  willing 
lorable  terms; 


and  that  fo  great  was  her  magnanimity,  fhe  would  take 
no  advantage  of  any  of  the  cmharraiTments  or  diHictil- 
tics  that  might  arife  from  the  deftrutlion  of  the  public 
credit. 

Secondly,  that  our  adininiftration  wa-  fo  obftinatcly 
bent  on  continuing  the  war,  that  it  would  make  no  peace 
wiiile  it  had  the  means  of  carrying  hollilitlcs  on. 

A  corollary  from  tliefe  pofitions  was,  that  if  tiie  con- 
fpirators  prevented  the  fuccefs  oi  the  loans,  ^uid  deprived 
the  government  of  the  means  ol  prufccuting  the  war,  wc 
Ihould  in  confequence  have  peace. 

Thefe  extravagant  pofitions  mufl  excite  the  amazement 
of  anv  calm  obfcrver.  "  But  as  foon  as  he  ihould  be 
acquainted  with  the  nature  and  exiftence  ot  prejudice, 
palfion,  obftinacy,  wilfulnefs,  wickelncfs,  and  above  all, 
with  the  chara,51er  and  influence  of  party  fpii  it,  the  myf- 
tery  would  vanilh  at  once  :  for  he  would  then  fee  that 
the^e  and  not  reafon  decide.  Rmf'on  asks  for  fatls  and 
arguments  :  prejudice,  ptiJ/ioN,  and  the  reji,  ask  [or  names ^ 
founds,  noi/'e,  and  fury.  By  thofe  they  are  impdkd — by 
thefe  they  decide"* 

Our  government  had  given  four  ftrong  and  irrefiftible 
proofs  of  a  difpofition  to  conclude  the  war,  which  muft 
carry  conviction  to  every  candid  mind. 

Fir  ft,  on  the  27th  June,  1812,  it  had  offered  the  Brit- 
ifti  government  an  armiftice  on  the  fimpleand  reafonable 
conditions  of  fufpending,  during  the  negociation,  the 
outrageous  injury  of  impreflrnent,  and  furrendei  ing  the 
American  feamen  previoufly  impreffed.  The  fufpen- 
fion  of  impreflrnent  at  that  period  could  not  have  occafion* 
ed  Great  Britain  any  poffihle  difadvantage  ;  for,  having 
nearlv  annihilated  all  the  rival  navies  of  Europe,  her 
ftock  of  failors  could  not  require  to  be  replenilhed  by 
impreffment  from  our  veffels.  And  as  fhe  had  at  all 
times  profeffed  a  willingnefs  to  give  up  our  feamen,  there 
could  have  been  no  dlfficultv  on  the  fecond  point.  She 
ought,  therefore,  to  have  met  our  amicable  overtures  with 

*  The  Examiner,  l»y  Bavciit  Gardeiiicr,  vol,  I.  page  57. 


1 


Hi 
I 

I, '  '<\ 


,) 


'n't 


m 


m 


>S88 


THE    OLIVE  BUANCJI. 


frankncfs.  It'  fhe  was  fighting  for  her  cxi  Hence,  as  has 
been  r.ud  a  tlioufand  times  ;  and  it  our  hoflilit\'  jeopar- 
dized It  ;  it  was  tlie  quintcdence  ot  madnef>.  and  lollv, 
not  to  have  withdrawn  from  us  the  number  ot  licr  enc- 
rnies,  when  {]rc  couKl  have  done  it  on  fuch  cafy  terms 
witliout  impairing  her  credit  or  character. 

Secondly,  It  had  promptly  accepted  the  RuITian  me- 
diation tor  the  termination  of  hoflilities. 

Thirdly,  To  remove  all  difficulty  out  of  the  way  on 
the  important  fubjetl  of  imprelTment,  an  aft  was  paflcd, 
on  the  third  of  March,  1813,  by  congrefs,  making  fuch 
provifions,  to  commence  from  the  clofe  of  the  war,  as  to 
lecr.re  Great  Britain  againll  the  leduBion  or  employ, 
nient  of  her  feamen  on  board  our  vefTels,  public  or  pri- 
vate.* 

Fourthly,  and  mofl  particularly,  in  the  appointment  of 
tliree  miniflers  to  negociate,  Mr.  Bayard,  a  decided  tede- 
raUff,  was  chofen — a  gentleman  ot  high  Handing  witli 
his  own  party — of  confiderable  talents — and  ffrenuoufly 
oppofed  to  the  adminiflration.  Unlefs  his  inflrufclions 
had  been  fair  and  honourable,  he  would  not  certainly 
liave  accepted  the  appointment. 

In  the  appointment  of  miniflers  in  England  or  elfe- 
where,  I  believe  there  is  no  fimilar  inftance  to  be  met 
with,  of  the  choice  of  a  perfon  hoftile  to  the  adminiflra- 
tion who  appointed  him.  It  was  a  very  great  effort  to 
remove  fufpicion  and  jealoufy  from  the  public  mind. 
Nothing  but  the  incurable  folly  and  madnefs  engendered 
by  faftion,  could  poffibly  refifl:  the  fair  inference  war- 
ranted by  this  appointment.  But  it  was  wholly  unavail- 
ing. Faftion  is  now,  ever  has  been,  and  ever  will  be, 
deaf,  and  dumb,  and  blind,  to  reafon  and  common  feiife. 

Thefe  four  fafts  notwithflanding,  the  perfuafion 
was  general  among  the  •'  peace  party,'*  that  the  govern- 
ment was  averfe  from  clofing  the  war.  The  talents 
of  the  federalifts   in  the  eaftern    Hates    and  elfewhcre, 


iV 


*  Among  the  membei's  who  voted  against  this  bill  wore  Messrs.  .lo- 
siah  Quincy  and  John  Randolph  Tiieir  motives  roti't  liuve  been  very 
extraordinary.    I  cannot  fathom  them. 


ft 


THE    OLIVE   DHAXCH. 


280 


Icnce,  as  has 
lllity  jcopar- 
fj.  and  iolly, 
oi  her  enc- 
h  caCy  terras 

RutTian  mc- 

[■  the  way  on 
?i  was  palled, 
making  fuch 
the  war,  as  to 
I  or  employ- 
public  or  pri- 

ppointment  oi 
I  decided  tcde- 
ftanding  with 
nd  Ihenuoufly 
is  inftruBions 
not  certainly 

gland  or  elfe- 

ce  to  be  met 

he  iidminiftra- 

grcat  effort  to 

public   mind. 

Is  engendered 
nterence  war- 
holly  unavail- 

ever  will  be, 

ommon  fenfe. 
:he    perfuafion 
|iat  the  govern- 
The  talents 

nd  elfewhcre, 

|l  wore  Messrs.  .lo- 
la  huvebeen  very 


•.vcrc  now  put  in  reqnifition  lo  iniprcfs  this  idea  on  the 
public  niind.  The  leaders  of  the  party  '»(Tetled  to  be, 
dud  the  nthcrs  were,  inflexible  in  tlic  opinion. 

Ill  conlcquence  every  pollible  exertion  was  made  in 
Bod.on  to  deter  the  citizens  trom  Itihfciihmg  to  tiie  k)ans. 
AllDciat-.ons  were  entered  into  in  t'^e  molt  folemn  and 
public  ni-inner  to  tiiis  effetl.  And  thofc  whoconi<l  not 
1)6  induced  by  mild  means,  were  deterred  by  denuncia- 
tions. A  volume  might  be  filletl  with  the  hicubrations 
that  appeared  o,i  this  iiilj 'd. 

The  pulpit,  as  ulual  in  Bofton.  came  in  aid  of  the 
prefs,  to  lecure  fucccfs.  Thofe  who  lubfcrihed  were  in 
direct  terms  declared  participators  in,  and  accclfaries  to, 
all  the  *'  murders,"  as  they  were  termed,  that  miglit  take 
place  in  the  "  unholy^  unnglUeoiis,  wicked,  abominable, 
and  accurfed  war."* 

To  enable  us  to  judge  of  the  dctcflable  wickcdncG.- 
of  thefc  proceedings,  let  us  examine  what  would  be  the 
effetl  of  complete  fucccfs.  N)  diminution  of  the  guilt 
ol  any  att  arifcs  from  its  failure  to  produce  its  ufual  and 
intended  efire6l.  The  man  who  fires  a  piftol  with  intent 
to  kill,  is,  in  the  eye  of  heaven,  equally  a  murderer  with 
him  whofe  bail  pafTes  through  the  brains  of  his  viclim. 
Had  complete  fuccefs  crowned  the  efforts  of  the  confpi- 
rators,  thefe  awful  confcquenees  would  have  taken  place  : 

Firft,  a  national  bankruptcy  +  The  public  creditors 
and  all  who  depended  on  them  would  have  been  ruined. 

Secondly,  with  the  downfall  of  the  public  flock, 
would  hav^e  fallen  the  ftocks  of  banks,  infurance  com- 
panies,;]:  &.C.  &c. 

Thirdly,  private  bankrnptcv  would  have  follon'cd  to 
an  enormous  extent  :  and  wide-lpread  ruin  would  have 
pervaded  the  nation. § 

•  Sep  chapter  XXXIX. 

t  Since  the  above  was  written,  this  cdoct  has  been  produced  to  a 
certain  extent  hv  ihis  conspiracy. 

t  Tliis  consequence  has  taken  place  to  a  most  alarming  dejjree. 

§  Stiong  tiaces  of  th^  pernicious  cfTtcts  ot  ihis  conspiracy  appear 
UiroHi'hout  the  nnion.  Some  of  the  conspirators  have  failen  u'nlament' 
cd  victims  to '!    ■'  owu  inuthinatious. 

.      35 


< 


'i 


I  ft 


^.1 

1  ! 


i 


111 

ii  h 

I 


'4aK 


"**.  «^ 


^w 


IIIK    OLIVK    UUANCH. 


n. 

'   'l 

1^ 


w' 


1/ 


FonitliI\,  ilic  luuionul  armies  nuifl  liavc  been  difh.uul- 
ed,  unci  the  tiontieis  expoled  to  the  de(i)lrtting  elle^ts  ol 
the  h.itehet  and  tomahawk.  Tlie  agtd  matron — thechrillc 
and  tender  wile — the  hlooimng  maiden — the  deeu'uit 
grandfiie — the  manly  lather — and  the  helpleis  inldiit,  all 
Avonid  Lave  been  involved  in  one  wide,  impaitial,  and 
undiilinguilhing  delhiittion. 

Fitthly,  our  Icapoit  towns  wonid  have  been  cxpofed  to 
the  merey  oi  Coekbnrns  and  Gordons.  They  would 
have  lliared  the  late  ol  Alexandria,  ot  llTimpton,  ol 
H<i\'ie-de-Grace,  and  ot    I'lcnchtown. 

And  fixthly,  to  clofe  the  awlul  cat.dogiic,  onrgovcrn- 
iTient  would  be  laid  at  the  meiev  ot  Great  Britain  ; — and, 
deprived  of  the  means  of  lefillance,  mull  have  fu'i- 
niitted  to  whatever  igncnnnious  tenns  flie  would  choolc 
to  iin[)o{e. 

Thcfe  were  the  refulls  that  nnift  have  taken  place,  had 
complete  fuccefs  crowned  the  horrible  pi^joti.  Never 
was  more  unholy  purpofe  attempted. 

It  is  highly  probable  that  many  ot  the  pcrfons  engaged 
in  this  confpiracy  did  not  contemplate  (uch  extenfive 
reuilts.  They  probably  looked  no  farther  torward  than 
to  the  reftoiation  ot  peace.  But  the  leadeis  in  the  (chcnic 
were  too  keen,  too  nirewd,,too  profound,  and  too  hollilc 
to  the  government  of  their  conutry,  to  allow  us  to  extend 
to  them  the  fame  degree  of  charity.  Their  minds  mull 
have  grafped  all  the  tlupendous  and  awful  confequenccs  ; 
and  they  had  reconciled  tliemlelves  to  the  wide-fpread 
devaflation,  which  they  regarded  as  "  a  confummation 
devoutly  to  be  wifhcd." 

The  fuccefs  in  the  eaftern  dates  was  confiderable. — 
Few  men  have  courage  to  ftem  the  tide  of  popular  de- 
lufion  when  it  fets  in  very  flrong.  There  were  fome, 
however,  who  fubfcribed  openly,  in  defiance  ot  denun- 
ciations and  threats.  Others,  ot  Icfs  firm  texture,  loaned 
their  money  bv  ftealth,  and  as  clandeftinely  as  if  it  were 
treafonable.  What,  alas,  mull  be  the  awtul  ftate  of  fo- 
ciety,  whe^n  a  free  citizen  is  afraid  of  lending  his  money 
publicly  to  fupport  the  government  that  protefts  him— 


niK    OLIVE    BRANCH. 


20  L 


tlio  mildc'd  lorm  of  jtoverntncnt  ever  voiichf.itcd  In'  licav- 
cii  to  niiiii— w  olc  niiMiifls  cinMcs  its  ciiciinVs  to 
jcop-u'dizc  Its  voi  V  cxillcinjc  !  Who,  that  luis  a  (otil  to 
tool — wlu*  that  has  u  fpaik  of  patriotiliii  or  |)iil)li(:  (|;m  t 
in  his  frame,  l)ut  mull  i)C  fiicil  with  a  holy  in(lim».;tioii 
at  fuch  a  hideous,  hich  <i  honihic  llal^;  oi  the  pjildic  mind  ! 

*•  Money  i'^  such  a  »lrii}(  (tlin  siift-st  sijrii  nf  the  fhyrrifr  pro^pi  liiy, 
n\u\  fument  nsri'inily  of  trndo)  iliitt  m«;ii  aR'nisi  il.i'ii'  i\>ii««'iciic.  h, 
flifir  lnj.ioni-,  tlific  (In'tv,  tfuir  firo/i-nsioiis  iiiul  l'lt( )M IsKS— in  e  m  .11- 
inu  to  IcMil  it  nicr:'llii — to  hMpiKni  tin-  very  iiKubines  wliicli  arc  b(!lli 
intciiiL'd  »\v\  culcuLiicd  lor  llicir  rii;ii  "•  ^ 

This  paragraph,  the  prodiu'lioii  of  John  Lowill,  cf- 
tai)lilhes  tlui  exi Hence  or  a  eoinbination  to  pr(>\oi)t  tho 
fiicccfsot  thr  loans,  who  had  "  bromijed'"  each  other,  or 
pledged  thciTifelves,  not  to  fublcr.he  :  Tome  of  whom, 
ncvestheh'ls,  did  fuhlcrihe  — hut  t)  avoid  tlie  repioaclies 
and  perfectition  ot  their  alFoeiates,  did  it  "  sccKtth.'" 
This  conclufion  irrcfiilahlv  lollows.  Tliefe  '*  bromi/es 
not  to  lend  thi'ir  money^"  muft  reler  to  the  combmation  I 
have  rtated.  It  can  Mavc  no  t)ther  meaning.  And  the 
fair  conftruflioti  ol  their  lending  "  secfr'th"  can  be  no 
other  than  that  they  were  liable  to  difgraee  with,  or  perfc- 
cution  from,  their  party,  it  they  lent  openly. 

Of  the  fpccies  of  denunciations  held  out  to  deter  from 
fubfcriptions,  Tome  idea  may  be  formed  from  the  follow- 
ing paragr<iphs,  taken  from  various  Bullon  papers. 

*•  Let  no  man  who  tchlies  to  continue  the  war  hi)  active   means,  bi/  rote 
tr  lending  money,    DARK   TO    PIIO^'J  lATf     IIIM^KI.F    AT   THE    ALTAR 
ON   THK   »A>tT    n\\  \   for  Ihty  are  actuattia*  nnich  pnrtiikerK  in  the  uin^ 
til  ) he  soldier  who  ihiusts  the  bayonet  i  and  THE  JtuciMtM  or  GO» 
WILL    AWAIT   THKM  "  ^^ 


'^ 


'f: 


I 


m 


;^1 


i 


*  Road  to  liuiii.  No.  5,  sub  B 


lie. 


■Mtt^ 


-^,. 


THE    OLIVK    fIRANfU. 


U^'BhIIII 

ft  i^ 

!^^  ^^HH 

m  At 

I'/^IHN 

ft  I'. 

iMM 

Il^ 

^imBk 

H 

■liUS^m 

1 1 

iim)  SM 

i.fl 

olM'i'csiivo  mt'«HifCi  in  iclmion  to  coinmei-CR,  niiH  to  nil  llic  iriineh 
wliicti  iiHVu  ouiuriiMl  in  iliu  ficlil  und  in  ih>  ciliiiu't.  To  wlu.!  |iiir|>(i<tc 
have  If.-dci  aiists  uM-ru'd  llifiuJiL-lven  to  hIumv  du'  wn-kuliuns  oi"  tins  Mur, 
ami  III  louxe  tliu  public  !»i.ri(iineiii  nKiiiiKt  it,  and  to  mIkmv  tlit>  itUlltoi  •«  ot 
it  not  only  to  be  uiiw.iilliv  ot  |iiii,l  c  ididiikni-c  hni  lli^;llly  riiniiiml, 
it  now  tlicy  cunUibutir  the  atiuu  nt'  iiKnity  witlinn  wLmh,  llit'st;  inlciR 
mutt  be  compelled  10  gf'.f)  ;  must  l><:  loinpellcil  to  return  to  thv  phaj 
and  nii'H^uics  undur  wliicli  itii^  country  uncc  wuh  at  [icncc,  itnd  in  %\\\- 
gulitr  prosperity . 

♦'  Hy  the  nu>{;nBniinou5  course  pointed  otit  by  pfovcpnor  Strong,  thst 
il,  by  wiililioldiii)^  nil  voluntary  aid  in  prnMculinj^  llit  wiif,  and  nuinlully 
«xpi'C!*»iii;;  one  opinion  as  to  its  injiiitlirc  and  ruinous  tcndcnu^ ,  wa  \\,\\a 
arrt'8tt.'d  us  i*n)};reH»  ;  mi'l  driv  )i  tta  uuthurt  to  ubdudon  ilu-ir  luj'u- 
rtutta  niHcmi'M.  tiiid  to  look  unxionnly  J],y  peace.  \\  \\»i  thin  it  wc  mnv 
lend  then*  money  ?  7'  it)  -wiil  nU  iinikc  pe  ice  ;  tlity  wdi  Htdl  luir.kti 
lor  (,';»:i;ida  s  liny  will  still  iiss.  mldc  tones,  ani<  shod  blood  on  our 
»ve-.ttrn  ironlicr — nui\-  piide,  it  notldn/j  else,  would  make  theia  do  it. 
'I'Ik  motives  wli.cli  tiihl  bi'oii^''il  on  the  wm-  till  i-untinuu  il,  t  tiiniu-y 
tan  lie  in(\—fHit  sonic  say — ivilf  i/on  fet  ff't^  vmnilvy  become  bunkrtipt  '.' 
^10,  the  country  will  never  become  Ounkv:  pt.  live  I'u.vr  i>o  not  fhivKvc 
•JUK  AHUrtKKs  ov  THKia  'riiL'.-.r  It;  I'd.Mi  (r  iit.\Kiii;i>r.  iJo  not  pro 
veiil  them  from  becoming  odious  to  lliu  public  and  repl<  ccd  by  bcticr 
men  iij^  Any  federalist  IV h'i  tend*  moiny  to  t^overvment,  mmt  jo 
tiud  shake  lu:nda  -with  James  jiJadison,  iind  cinim  tellowHliip  uith  i't-lix 
(orumly  iXjf  Let  him  no  more  cull luinsilf  a  federalist  undo  friend  to 
Ins  countrij      lie  \nU  be  called  b|  ollurit,  kmamuuh. 

"  Hut  sceondly,  federalists  will  not  lend  money  bccnase  they  toill 
never  get  it  again.  How,  where  and  when  are  tlu  governintiit  to  ^tt 
ujoney  lo  pay  interest?  And  ^  who  can  tell  ivhi  iher  Jiuine  t  ulern 
may  think  the  debt  contracted  under  such  circnm  lances,  mid  by  men 
■ioho  lend  money  to  help  out  mrusi.res  -which  they  hux>e  loud'y  unit  cuv- 
stanlly  condemned,  ought  to  be  paid  !  On  the  whole  then  liieic-  Hn-lwo 
vt-ry  blroiij;  reasons  why  (cderalists  will  not  leinl  nunu)— lirst,  because 
it  would  be  u  basi:  a'andontnent  of  ptttiticul  atui  mural  principles  ;  and 
secondly,  because  il  i»  pretty  diiam  they  will  never  be  p«id  again. 

"It  is  very  grateful  to  find  On  l  the  universal  sentinunt  is,  that 
■'^^nnyiHun  ivho  lenils  hs  money  to  the  i.ov>rnmeiit,  at  tht  present 
time  -viU  forfeit  'ill  cUntii  to  con,inon  honesty  mid  common  couriesy 
among  a!l  true  Jriends  to  the  coimtry.  tiod  lot  bid  that  any  tederalist 
ahoui.l  evur  hold  up  his  liund  lo  p.ty  lederulisls  tor  money  lent  to  the 
present  rulers:  and  federalists  c:ni  judge  wnellier  democrat!)  will  tu.^ 
their  oonsl.luenls  to  pay  iiiitrtsl  lo  ledendists." 

liostun  laazettc,  April  l4th,  18U. 

"  Tlie  war  ndvocatcs  appear  very  t>ore  and  chagrined  at  the  failure  tst' 
the  hite  loan,  and  in  their  ravings  ascribe  the  meagre  subscriptions  to 
the  ir  iths  which  liave  appeared  in  the  federal  papers  on  the  subject," 
Cenlinel,  Murch  'J4lh,  1813. 


"  No  peace  will  ever  be  made,    till  the  people  sny  there  shall  be  no 
wur.     Il  tUe   rich  men  continue  to  luinisti  inonty,    war  will   coittiwuc 


^ 


■    <i 


TIIK    OMVE  IIIIANCH. 


itfua 


\\\\  llif  lll'ln^l.•^ill^  «rp  milJctI  »iili  bli  o<l — lill  rvjTV  fU-M  in  Ampncn  \n 
HrliUr  Willi  t'i»«  l»f»Mi;!*  (  I  tlic  luriplj-  "  DscoiUSC  litliVi  icI  Hi  UjcI'mIiJ, 
April  7    181  V.      Hv  •  lijitli  !*nl*li,  I)   O 

"  II  litis  Win- in  to  1)1"  supix.iiefl  hy  Innni,  pHpri*  »lnck  wl'l  I  rm!  us 
f:4>l  im  IkkH'i- tliiiii  miii'Kis  Till  ir  fl> '<•<•'«,  it  your  piiMiiiTs  arc  (;(io<l, 
will  \i<lil  till'  i;iJ<rt:^l;  Imi  lor  your  ii,i''H^l  of  pHpi  r  Jilmk.  yo\i  n.nst 
yiilii  ;i  tV'i-cf  ol'  loans  iimui:ilh  Irom  your  own  |ioik<  t»  'I'ln- ;uliiiin'l 
him!  ill.;  puiMT  li!«ve  ii  ('"iriiifd  iln'  cicw,  ll'wt  tln>  Iti-vt-  liut  i'vw  viiot  in 
ihi-  locker;  llu-y  njist  Iji;  rcpleuislieil,  or  ih-  war  liiiir*  U  iiiusl  willii-r. 
Ill  our  oM  iir,  wlicn  |irivi«ic  nu'o  win*  pulilii-  ctt'l'tors,  iiinl  hn-mio 
Hoiiienliut  im|»iilif'  I  of  piililiu  ih  lay,  tin-  :nlii»inistriU.on  would  proinifis 
tliciij  oiii?  iH'^v  <l' ilur  lor  tuo  |(uuilr»*il  ol<I  OMts,  ami  try  ihnr  |i  li<iicc 
a^iiii  ^ly  l>rolla'i  'hi  tucrH,  il  >  ou  linvr  nioiicv  lo  let,  Uf  it  liy  ll  llio 
war  rontiuiiis  you  will  puiclnisc  jour  »tock  nt  foiir  y<  his  oM,  il.«  r,M  r, 
tlinu  you  c  .h  r;  int.-  it ;  s«i  unjust  is  this  oHVosivf  war,  iii  wliirli  om  i  ul  rs 
ll  ivi  |)luii;ri(l  IH,  in  iIk;  solnir  coiisuliiaioii  of  niiilioiis,  tlml  it'i''i/ 
ctinnot  tuiincieittioiiHli/  upjiiuiicfi  the  God  of  uvune/i  fur  /ti'^.  (jli'ssin:r 
upon  it." 

Ccntincl,  I3lli  Juniiiiry,  1813. 


I" 


T. 


The  f(-llowiiiir  advcitifcincnt  contains  volinncs.  It 
evinces  hi\()n(l  the  power  ot  di^iht  oi  deni.il,  t!ic  horri- 
ble il ;'tc  to  which  ri  lew  Iciftioiis,  violent  men,  hy 
their  ticriloiiahle  pratlices,  had  reduced  the  town  ot 
Boiloii,  when  thole  who  weie  dilpoled  to  (upport 
tiu-ir  own  j^oveinnient,  were  ohlijred  to  do  it  ,is  clm- 
deftiiudy  as  it  tiiey  were  engaged  in  Ionic  dangeious 
eonfpMacy. 

^  The  J\'*ew  Lnan, 


ll 


I  I4lh,  18U. 


Frern  the  Boston  C'hronic'e,  Jlpril  li,  I81i. 

"  Frnr.i  the  ni'vipprf  sever»l  I'cspictcd  I'ri  mis,  wp  «ru  iml;  cc«I  to  ;\ii. 
noiiiiL..'  t<;  ilif  pu(ir('  iliMt  siil>siripiioiis  to  tlie  new  loan  will  In-  nrtivcd 
liy  us  .18  ii;^tMts  iiinii  t'le  'iJtIi  itl^l.  tVoiu  imlividictls,  or  incnriiornltMl 
lioilii  s,  in  sums  of  §J  500  ritid  upwMiiIs  The  subscriptions  to  coiilorm 
1o  (he  rL'p;ul!4iioiis  aiiu' uticed  by  the  sccrsrtarj  of  tlie  trcMfUiy,  <l;iU!(l 
4lli  \pril  PdvmtMits  iTiiiy  Uc  niarle  iu  lloslon  \uoiioy,  or  in  any  oilier 
in  til!'  United  States,  the  suhstrhir  paving  the  custoinary  rnic  ot  dis- 
cou  it.  \pplirsitions  will  b"  rect-ivc  I'roni  any  persons  wlio  wish  to  rc- 
w'wii  thtir  inltrcst  in  tiobton,  by  letters  post  paid  or  by  written  applj. 
cMioes  from  individuals  in  Jtoston  (mil  the  namet  of  nil  mihscrthtra 

nha.'l  fie  kno-tVii  onhi  lo  the  iiuilevsi^ned,  aetonlm'^-  tr^  tlie  propoxMls  of 
tl.t  St  ei  etaiy  (.f  the  treasuiy  (or  inon  piitieiilirs  see  liis  advtriise- 
me;il;)  eacji  Jipplicant  ml|^t  nnne  the  |ii>;lu'St  rMi-  he  will  g  ve,  and  il' 
tlif  loan  is  grantnl  lowt  r  ih.m  tliis  piO;io.sal,  il  wili  of  course;  be  tor  his 
bentfit— but  oii   tlie  oilier  liam),   if  higher,   ho  will  lose  ibtj  bciitfit  ol 


2.5* 


V 
t 


^'J-1 


THfc  OMVE    BUAXUn. 


1  A. 


boinsj  a  siihsrriliev     The  corliftcatcs,   nnd  oil   the  business  rclalwig  it  (o 
will  be  (lehvrred  free  of  ch:irgc 

nil.nKRT  h  DK.VN,  B.okeis. 
**  Exchange  Coffee  /louse,  Boslcn,  ^flpril  12." 

••  Ho-rj  (fcfradc'l  must  our  co^'frumrjit  hn  even  in  thfir  hivn  eye.i 
yt'hou  tfii'i/  resort  to  svch  tricki)  (o  ul'tdiii  viomni,  ivhich  a  cornmo.:  Jeti' 
(jvohev  vJoiiUl  be  asliuynt'd  of  'IJiev  must  be  well  atquaitited  wiili  the 
liiliiic  of  l!ie  men  who  v.'*t  to  loati  iliem  money,  wlien  lliev  offer,  th»t 
if  tliey  wii!  have  the  goo  iii'oss  Uxlo  it,  their  riamea  shall  not  he  exjioaed 
to  the  -world.  They  know  rifjlit  well  that  the  cause  is  so  stieakinff  and 
vile  th'U  nobody  woidd  be  seen  in  /'e  broad  day-light  to  lend  thtm  «,o- 
vey.  However,  i'  is  consistent  wiiii  the  system  of  ileceplion  and  double 
dciilinij;  which  lliey  linve  alwnyi^  prai-i  sid 

"  I  a!il(:'llit.'<  may  Ic  inihi>;i  i|  to  suhsciihe  to  the  loan,  becpuse  it  will 
teiu!  !'i  shorten  llu'.  xi<nr.  lint  wli;;t  pledge  have  iht-y  when  they  liavr 
]>'.vire<I  all  tlieir  cosh  into  liie  lap  ot  the  go\crninenl,  that  the  loan 
vili  eii;i  .' 

"  No  one  doubts  of  their  rancour  and  ill-will  towards  England  :  ap() 
thit  iliey  are  willini;  Vi  fijj;itt  het-HS  lon.y;  as  tliey  cin  get  money  Well 
ihf',  it"  thc'V  ean  gull  llu'  rich  men,  and  j^et  as  many  loai>8  as  tiay  iisk 
fr.j",  'rjiil  iliey  nut  fight  till  th<it  /;  goiir  y  yea,  «nil  nnlil  they  can  utgo- 
vi.'Ac  ni.'.v  lunns  upon  the  siune  Icrnts  ? 

"  i'erhnps  fnni/u*!  i«en  my  l)e  bi-ihcd  by  tlie  high  interest  that  is  ol- 
f'trel  I5iu  il"  iliey  Vrithliold  their  aid,  and  so  force  thf^  government  into 
u  pence,  will  not  their  oaj)!tal  i)e  better  employed,  ii  engaged  in  trade  , 
Avill  ihcy  uc)t  hav(,-  better  security  for  its  iia^nieul,  and  at  their  comniaid 
when  tliey  ask  for  it  i 

*  On  ilie  -sviioU',  wc  think  it  no  way  to  get  out  of  the  war,  to giv:' 
money  to  the  govermwHt,  when  tlie  vtry  thing  that  prevents  tl;em  iVnni 
carrying  it  on,  is  liie  want  of  money  7  '    liobton   Gazclte,   April    Ii, 

After  having  huiinidated  tlie  citizens  from  lending  their 
•money  publicly,  by  the  inojl  inflatnmatory  and  rc':i;t!Ou.s 
public.!tions,  oi  which  the  preceding  extracts  afford  a 
llight  fpecinicn,  thefe  writers  revile  and  abufe  the  gov- 
ernment, becanfe  thofe  who  wilh  to  lend,  are  invited  by 
tlie  brokers,  and  are  forced  to  do  it  fecretly  !  What  tran- 
fcendent  injufticc  ! 

Thefe  are  fair  fpecimens  of  hundreds  of  paragraph; 
and  efTays  written  with  a  view  to  dilfiiade  and  inti- 
midate monied  men  from  lubfrribing  to  the  loans. 
Canting  hypocrites,  who  were  violating,  the  fundamen- 
tal laws  of  fociety,  cncom-aglng  "  fmuggling,"  and 
"perjury" — "acquiring  ill-gotten  wealth  at  the  ex- 
pcnfe  of  public  morals"— and  endeavouring,  though  a 


i 


THE    OLIVE    BRANCH. 


S9J 


iinall  minority,  to  trample  down  the  nitijority,  had  the 
wickednefs  to  call  down  "  the  judgment  of  God*^  upon 
the  fijppoiters  ot  a  lawful  and  mild  government ! 

In  the  middle  ftates,  the  federalilts  did  not  enter  into 
the  pr(  JL'ft,  or  to  a  very  limited  extent.  Many  ot  tiiem 
were  fubfcribers — fome  on  a  very  liberal  fcale.  And 
thus  the  loans,  in  fpite  of  the  prefs  and  the  pulpit,  and 
the  efforts  ot  the  confpirators,  fucceeded,  to  their  infinite 
mortification.  Nevv  means  were  brought  into  operation, 
which  were  temporarily  crowned  with  fuccefs. 

How  ftrong  foevcr  may  be  the  general  fenfe  of  the 
infamy  of  fmuggling,  it  has  always  prevailed  ;  and  will 
never  be  wholly  fupprelTed,  while  the  advantages  it  holds 
out  are  fo  great,  and  while  there  are  men  to  be  found  who 
worfhip  gain  as  their  God.  It  is  not  therefore  furprifing, 
that,  as  the  non-importation,  the  embargo,  &;c.  were  de- 
noiniced  as  opprefTive,  unjult,  and  unconllitiitlondl — and 
the  war  as  wicked,  and  unprovoked,  and  corrupt, 
fmuggling  fhonld  be  carried  on  to  a  moft  prodigious  ex- 
tent. The  public  papers  in  Boflon  repeatedly  invited 
ani  urged  the  citizens  to  fet  the  reftriftive  fyflem  at  de- 
fiance. Thefe  circumftances  confpired  to  fupply  that 
town  with  fmuggled  goods  on  a  verv  large  fcale. 

Of  the  extent  to  which  fmuggling,  and  fraud,  and 
perjury  are  carried  in  Boffon,  fome  idea  may  be 
formed  from  the  iollowing  "ptecious  conteflion," 
writien  by  John  Lowell.  It  defcribes  a  ftate  of  focie- 
ty  not  exceeded  in  the  mofl  corrupt  countries  in 
Europe. 


''A 


1^ 


"  Encouraped  and  protected  from  VJfomy  by  the  Just  odium  against 
the  tvur,  (f^  t/iey  engage  tnhne'essfil}ecufiitio7ia—;^'j'sn'ev  at  the 
restraints  ui'  conscience — ^XJ"  laugh  at  perjury—  ;  }=•  mock  atlega'  res- 
traints— and  y  acquire  an'JU-gottcn  iveaith  at  the  expense  of  public 
morals,  and  of  the  mure  sober,  conscientious  part  of  thu  co;«nj»;»'/^."*t 

•  Road  to  Ruin,  No  G. 

t  Mr.  Lowell  (Jenics  that  tlic  aliove  portrait  was  i)rawn  for  Boston. 
He  says  ''  the  remarks  were  inteiultd  to  wpply  to  otiier  states  llian 
Massachus'itls"— but  he  does  net  specily  which  are  the  states.     1  have 


/' 


"v 


296 


THE    OLIVE    IJRANC'H. 


'  Ills  worthy  of  the  moft  fcrious  reflefllon  of  the  hon- 
ourable and  public-fpliited  fedeialifts  of  the  middle  and 
fouthein  ftates,  liow  far  they  can,  without  difgrace  and 
dilhotionr,  any  longot  "'follow  the  lead"  of  a  town  where 
fuch  a  ftate  of  tilings  vxifts — where  no  regard  is  paid  to 
*^ the  rejlramts  of  confcience" — where  "perjury,"  is  a 
fu'j-M  of  "laughter" — where  **"  le^al  rejlraints"  are 
**  let  at  defiance" — and  where  ''public  morals"  are  facri- 
ficcd  to  the  acquifition  of  "  ill-gotten  wealth" — What  an 
awful  confideratioii  it  is,  that  fuch  a  defcription  of 
citizens  fhould  have  it  in  their  power  to  decide  the  defti- 
nies  ot  eight  millions  of  people  and  their  poller ity  !  for 
it  is  a  moft  frightful  truth,  that  all  the  violent,  lawkTs, 
Jacobinical,  and  wicked  meafurts,  which  are  driving  this 
coimtrv  to  perdition,  have  their  origin  in  Bofton,  where 
"pel  jury  and  fmuggling"  are  the  roads  to  ioitune---and 
where  "confcience  affords  no  reltraint."* 

Mr.  Lowell,  after  drawing  this  frightful  pifture,  en- 
deavours to  make  the  adininiftiation  anlwerable  for 
the  whole  to  "  a  juft  God,"  who  "  knows  hoxv  to  tract 


%v 


mm.  I 


reconsidered  tlie  sirbject,  and  am  n«t  disposed  to  admit  his  (fefencc. 
Tlie  dopruv^^tion  of  morals  lie  dcsci'i))es,  is,  he  sitys,  the  rtsnlt  ok' 
"  smHq:glin!T."  And  tliis  is  protected  from  infnmy  ly  "  the  jnsl  odium 
a^  aiiist  llie  war  "  Now  it  is  well  know  that  there  is  no  pHPt  of  the 
T'uiti<l  '•t;'ti  s  where  sn><iirn;liiiw  is  Ciinied  on  so  largely  and  so  b  re- 
facedly  as  in  Rnsff  n — ai.d  iid  e  where  so  much  psiiiis  li«ve  been  tnken 
to  xei((  the  pii'«Iic  passion  at;aihst  the  war,  or  witit  so  miuh  sneccSK. 
It  is  therefore  not  in  Mr,  Lowell's  povver  to  remove  the  fairness  ol  the 
ap[ilieatiun. 

•  I  wisli  here  to  avoid  being  misunderstood.  This  statement  re- 
specting Hoslon  is  to  be  received  wi'l)  due  qn  difiiHtion.  1  ha>e  nuniiT- 
ous  and  most  tsiimal)le  acqnnintanees  in  Host  n — equal  in  poiit  of 
honour  vind  intt  grity  (o  any  citizens  in  the  United  States  And  snih  I 
consider  tlie  muss  of  the  inhabitants.  Kut  in  tinus  of  factious  violence, 
thi  w  rst  njen  always  rise  uppermost;  gain  the  ascendency;  g:ve  llie 
tone  to  public  measures  ;  and  establish  an  arbitrary  sway  ""Uf'tiie 
men  who  "  lnught  at  pei  jury  "  and  "sneer  at  the  restraints  of  con- 
science" are  precise  ly  those  wJio  in  such  times  of  frenz)  bear  sway  over 
Ibeii-  tellow  citizens,  and  heur  down  or  force  with  thein  ih  dis^'assion.'.te 
and  well  intentioneil  At  all  events,  the  \)ictiire  of  Hoslon  is  not  n)ine. 
If  it  b.  iiicf  rrett,  I  am  not  Answerable.  Let  Mr.  Lowell  anvl  his 
friends  settle  the  account  between  them.  \    • 


-i  1 


THE    OLIVK   BKAXOH. 


297 


of  the  hon- 
mkldle  and 
ifgrace  and 
town  where 
rd  is  paid  to 
rjuiy,"  is    a 
frainfs''   are 
'j"  are  facri- 
" — Wliat  an 
'fcription  ot 
ide  the  dcfti- 
olleiitv  !  ior 
lent,  lawkTs, 
I  driving  this 
oflon,  where 
tortune--and 

pifture,  en- 

\{werable  ior 

kozv  to  trace 


mit  his  (It-feiicc. 
s.  the  rt-siilt  of 
'*  tin-  just  odium 
|is  no  p'-trt  of  tliC 
cly  anil  so  b  re- 
lieve bctii  Uiketi 
BO  mnih  snrctsf;. 
e  fairness  of  ibe 


lis  statement  re- 
1  ha»e  ounuT- 
qi\al  in  poiit  of 
tes  AihI  snili  I 
1  factious  violeinf, 
idenry  ;  g^vf  tli« 
Kwav  ''  i>''  ''"^ 
lesira'iiits  of  co"- 
\\  bear  swJty  over 
[ill  His^iissioDiite 
Utoti  is  "not  mine. 
Lowell  and  bis 


Me  Cit?tfes  of  human  events.''  This  is  mo  ft  forry  and 
coiitcfiiptible  canting,  and  can  deceive  no  man  beyond 
the  Vdnk  ot  an  ideot.  Tnis  hideous  derangement  ol  mo- 
rals is  iolely  the  production  of  tad'on,  wnich  confe- 
crates  every  means,  however  wicked,  to  anfwer  its  vil& 
purpofes. 

*•  Administration  hirelings  mny  revile  the  northern  states,  and  the 
inerclianls  generally,  for  this  mon-tr  ns  di  pravation  of  ii.or:ils,  ij^  ihi.i 
fxecrable  course  of  smusrorling  and  fraud  But  tbi-re  is  ;«  just  (^od, 
wlio  knows  bow  to  tr.'ice  the  caustR  of  hunan  evcnis  .  an'l  he  w/U  <i8' 
swc'lly  vimt  upon  the  authors  of  thin -war,  all  the  ini<]xiit.eit  of  xehich  it 
has  been  the  occns  on  If  the  gii  ./»/  deserve  our  scorn  or  our  pity y  the 
tempters  and  seducers  deserve  our  execration."* 

Tiiis  is  very  juft  and  true.  The  guilty  deferve  our 
korn.  The  feducers  merit  execration.  But  who  are  the 
leducers  ?  Thole,  indubitably,  who  tor  fo  many  years 
liave  been  employed,  by  every  means,  however  bale  or 
vile,  in  exciting  the  people  to  forcible  oppofition  to  the 
rulers  ot  their  choice — who  have,  in  the  public  papers, 
openly  invited  thofe,  who  needed  no  fuch  invitation,  to 
violate  laws  fairly  and  conftitutionally  enafted,  which 
they  denounced  as  oppreflive  and  "  unconjlitutionair 
Thefe  are  "  the.  feducers.''  Thefe  are  the  men  on  whom 
heaven  in  its  righteous  decrees,  will  "  vifit  all  the  iniqui- 
ties," to  which  their  ambition,  their  turbulence,  and 
their  faftious  fpirit  have  given  pccafion. 

Many  valuable  Britifh  prizes  were  fcnt  into  Boflon, 
which  greatly  added  to  the  ftock  of  goods  introduced 
there  by  fmuggling.  The  middle  and  fouthern  ftates, 
which  refrained  from  thefe  pefliferous  praftices,  drew 
nearly  all  their  fupplies  of  foreign  merchandize  from 
that  town.  This  courfe  of  events  filled  the  vaults  of  the 
banks  in  Bofton  with  incomparably  more  fpecie  than 
ihey  ever  held  before — and  raifed  very  heavy  balances 
again  ft  the  banks  in  New  York.  The  Philadelphia 
banks  were  indebted  to  thofe  in  New  York  :  thofe  in 
Baltimore  to  thefe  in  Philadelphia  ;  and  fo  on,  more  to 
the  fouthward. 

•  Ibid. 


\  ii 


I  'J 


n 


y     } 


•  .fi 


208 


THE    OLIVE    linANtll. 


It  may  not  be  unamufing  to  the  reader  to  explain  this 

f>rocels  a  iiltle  more  in  detail.  New  York  purchafed 
aigely  in  Bolton,  partly  tot  bank  notes,  and  partly  on 
credit.  ¥o\  the  latter  portion  promHrory  notes  were  giv- 
en, whieh  were  traniniitted  tiom  Bo  lion  to  the  New 
York  banks  tor  colletlion.  Very  large  purchafes  were 
likewife  made  in  Bolton  by  citizens  ot  Philadelpiiiii, 
Baltimore,  Richmond,  Peterlbnrg,  &c.  Payments  were 
made  in  bank  notes  ot  the  middle  and  fouthern  ftiites, 
and  in  promilP  /  notes.  Both  were  fent  on  to  New 
York,  the  firft  tor  tranlmifiion  to  the  banks  whence  they 
wereilFued — ;  nd  the  lecond  for  collection 

This  ftate  ot  things  fuggelled  the  ft u pendens  idea, 
at  which  the  reader  will  Itand  aghaft,  of  wielding  the 
financial  advantages  then  enjoyed  by  Bofton,  to  pro- 
duce  tliC  eflfed  which  the  pvefs  and  tlie  pulpit  had  tailed 
to  accomplifh — that  is,  tojhp  the  u heels  of  the  govertwient 
by  draining  the  banks  m  the  middle  and  fouthern  Jlates 
oj  their  fpeae,  and  thus  dt fabling  the  fri(nds  of  the  gov- 
trnment  from  filling  the  loans  !  !  !  This  ft  heme  was 
piojefted  lall  winter — and  innncdiate  arrangements  were 
nude  to  carry  it  into  execution.  It  has  richly  earned  tor 
the  projcMors  the  he<jvy  cuifes  of  the  widows  and  or- 
phans,  and  other  perlons  on  whom  it  has  entailed  fo 
much  diltrefs. 

Accordingly  the  New  Yoi  k  bank  notes  held  by  the 
Bolton  banks  were  lent  torward  with  demands  tor  tlieir 
amount  in  Ipecie— and  drafts  were  likewife  drawn  on  the 
New  Yoik  banks  for  the  balances  on  tlie  face  of  the 
books,  to  enormous  amounts.  I  am  credibly  informed 
that  t[ie  fum  was  at  leall  four  millions  v)t  dollars  troin 
the  time  of  commencing  thefe  operations  till  tire  29th 
of  laft  Augult.  To  relieve  themfelves  from  this  pi ef- 
fure,  the  New  York  banks  drew  as  largely  a^  tiie  Itate  of 
the  accounts  would  ad'Tiit,  on  tliofe  in  Philadelphia — the 
latter  on  tiiofe  in  Balitlmore  --thofe  oir  Richmond,  Sec. 
A  leaitul  alarm  Ipread  through  the  community. 
Tb.e  iilue  was  looked  tor  with  terror.  Waggons  were 
loadmg  With  fpecie  at  the   doors  ot  our  banks   alraoft 


THE   OLIVE    BIIANCH. 


299 


every  week.  There  have  hecn  three  at  one  time  loading 
in  Pniladelpliia.  The  hanks  were  obliged  to  curtail  their 
difcounts.  Bankruptcies  took  place  to  a  confuicraule 
extent.  Even  wealthy  men,  who  were  wiiolly  unprepar- 
ed tor  fuch  a  crifis,  fnffered  great  inconvenience.  Some 
wiio  had  (ubfcribed  to  the  loans,  were  unable  to  comply 
Avith  llieir  engagements  :  and  others  were  withheld  from 
iubfcribing,  by  the  general  preiFuie  for  money.  In  con- 
fequence,  the  loan,  then  pending,  partially  failed,  to  the 


ifTi 


)f  th 


id  diftrels 


My  great  emoarraument  ox  tne  government,  ana  a 
of  the  public.      This  zuas  the  nefarious  ohjcd  in  view. 

1  have  before  me  "  A  true  abftraft  of  tlie  Itatcments 
of  the  feveral  bank  corporations  of  Mairjchufctts,  ren- 
dered January,  1814,"  and  publiihcd  by  the  fecretary 
ot  that  commonweaUh,  from  which  it  appears  that  at  that 
period,  the  fpecie  in  the  vaults  of  the  Bofton  banks  was — 
Mairachufelts,  2,114,164  dolls. 

Union,  '  6,57.795 

Bolton,  1,182,572 

St  ite,  659,066 

New  England,  284,4.56  -    ; 

Mechanics,  47.39^  ' 


4,94,5,444  dolls.        - 
At  this  timethefe  banks  had  in  circulation  onlv  the  fol- 
lowing amount  o[  notes:    ot  cdmfe  there  could  not  he 
the  lead   pretext  of  want  of  fpecie  to  anfwer  the  utmoll: 
ilemand  that  could  be  reafonably  calcul<>ted  on  : 

Malfachufctts,  '       682,708  dolls. 

Union,  233,22,5 

Bofton,  369,903 

State,  509,000 

New  England,  161.170 


Mech 


antes. 


44-rr5 


2,000,601  ' 

It  therefore  appears  that  for  evesy  hunir?d  dollars  of 
their  notes  in  circulation,  they   had  jicarly    250  dollars 


m 


iK 


M 


j-"^*^? 


^. 


300 


THE    OLIVE  BUANCII. 


in  fpecie-— a  ftate  of  things  probably  unparalleled  iu 
tlie  iiiftory  ot  banking,  troni  the  days- of  tlie  Lombards 
to  the  prefent  time. 

No  man  can  pretend,  that  with  the  above  enormous 
amount  ot  fpecie,  and  the  moderate  amount  of  notes  in 
circulation,  thefe  banks  would  have  thought  it  either 
advifable  or  neceffary  to  make  fuel)  very  unufual  and 
immoderijte  drafts,  unlefs  there  were  fome  extraordinary 
obje6i  to  be  accomplilhed. 

Attempts  have  been  made  to  juftifv  thefe  proceedings 
as  merely  the  refult  oi  the  balance  of  trade  in  favour  of 
Bofton.  It  has  been  affetted,  that  it  was  no  more  than 
right  and  proper  for  the  banks  of  that  town  to  requue 
the  balances  due  them  ;  and  that  the  cafe  daily  occurs,  of 
banks  drawing  on  each  other  in  a  fimilar  mode,  when 
balances  accrue. 

Thefe  pi.lliatives  will  not  (land  the  teft  of  fober  exami- 
nation. A  large  portion  of  the  heavieft  drafts,  indeed 
thofe  that  firft  excited  alarm,  were  made  during  the 
winter,  when  the  freight  was  20,  25,  or  30,  per  cent, 
higher,  in  confequence  of  the  wretched  ifatc  ot  the 
roads,  than  it  would  have  been,  had  they  waited  a  few 
weeks.  Th  s  is  a  conclufive  circumftance,  taken  in 
conjunftion  with  the  faft,  that  there  was  a  fuperabundancc 
of  fpecie  in  the  Bofton  banks,  and  likewifc  with  the 
laborious,  and  unceafing  and  profligate  efforts  to  deftroy 
the  public  credit. 

It  is  well  known  to  every  perfon  mi  the  flightefl 
degree  acquainted  with  banking,  that  when  two  banks 
in  different  cities  carry  on  a  large  intercourfe  with 
each  other,  balances  will  arife  in  favour  of  one  and 
againft  the  other,  often  to  a  very  large  amount;  which 
balances  remain  unclaimed  fometimes  tor  months 
together,  unlefs  the  fpecie  be  wanted.  The  banks  do  not 
choofe  unrieceirarily  to  incur  the  expenfe  ot  tranfpoita- 
tion— and  wait  in  expeftation  of  the  balance  being 
reduced  by  the  regular  operations  of  trade.  I  think  I 
am  fafe  in  faying  that  a  million  o'^  dc.lars  is  conftant- 
\y  thus   circumflanced,  between   New  York,  Philadel- 


IHE    OLIVF,    BRANCH. 


301 


phia,  Baltimore,  and  Richmond.  New  York  owes  large- 
ly at  times  to  Philadelphia—Philadelphia  at  other  titnes 
largely  to  Now  York — and  fo  ot  banks  in  otlier 
places. 

To  render  the  llroke  at  public  credit  more  unerring — 
and  to  place  the  refult  wholly  out  ot  the  reach  of  contin- 
gency, there  was  an  arrangement  made  by  fome  per/'ons 
at  prefent  unknown,  with  a,i^ents  of  the  government  of  Low- 
er  Canada,  whereby  an  xmmenfe  amount  of  BntiPi  govern- 
m'tnt  hillSf  drawn  on  Quebec,  were  thrown  into  the  maikets 
in  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and  Baltimore,  which  were  sold 
to  monied  men  on  such  adv/ntngeou?  terms  as  induced 
them  to  make  large  purchafes^*  And  thus  was  abforbed  a 
very  large  portion  of  the  capital  ot  thcfe  three  cities. 

Thefe  bills  were  tranfmitted  through  the  hands  ot  trufty 
perfons  in  Bofton  :  and  the  proceeds  being  placed  to 
their  credit,  added  immenfely  to  the  command  the  Bof- 
ton banks  had  over  thofe  in  the  middle  and  fouthern 
ftates. 

Let  us  here  make  a  folemn  paufe.  Let  us  ftrip  thefc 
ia/is  ot  the  thin  veil  thrown  over  them.  Let  us  confider 
them  in  all  their  nakednefs,  in  all  their  deformity. 

My  heart  fickens  at  the  inveftlgation.  I  turn  with 
difguft,  with  horror,  with  affright.  Boflon,  the  cradle 
ot  the  revolution,  which  claims  fo  high  a  degree  of  pre- 
eminence for  her  "  morality  and  religion,"  after  having 
failed  in  her  endeavours  to  prevent  tiie  fuccefs  of  the 
loans,  draws  away  the  fpecie  from  the  middle  and  fouth- 
ern ftates,  to  bankrupt  the  government,    regardlefs  of  the 

*  These  bills  are  openly  advertised  for  saie  in  the  Boston  papers.     I 
anne.Y  an  advertisement  taken 

From  the  Botton  Daily  Advertiser,  Dec.  16,  181*. 

GOVERN  MKNT   IJILLS 

1  Bill  for  ....;...  2/.     SOo")  Hrllish  government  Bills  for  sale 

1  diuo '2.K>5.     by     CHARLt>  VV   (illKEX, 

1  ditto '203^  No.  14,  India  Wharf. 

L.  1,253 

26 


y 


SOS 


THE    OLIVE    BUANCIl. 


luilvcifal  ruin  in  wliich  it  would  involve  indifcrimlnately 
friends  ot  war — tnends  of  peace — tcdcralifts — democrats 
— young  and  old — men,  v/ omen,  and  children  !  And,  to 
add  a  deeper  die  to  the  tranfathon,  the  /f?eat  is  tranfmUted 
to  agents  of  the  governor  of  Canada^  for  the  purpofe  of 
enabling  him  to  difpatch  his  red  alhet  to  funm  in  blood  on 
the  deftncelefs  frontiers  of  then  oivn  country  !*  This  is 
the  work  of  fell,  accurfed  iafclion,  the  hcavicft  fcourge 
that  ever  iilucd  fiom  Pandora's  box  ! 

The  confequences  of  thefe  vile  operations  are  flill 
feverely  felt.  Many  eftiniable  individuals  have  been  ab- 
folutely  ruined.  Bank  paper  has  become  an  obje£l  of 
brokerage,  and  is  fold  at  various  rates  from  three  to  ten 
per  cent,  difcount.  A  general  ftagnation  has  been  pro- 
duced. The  lofs  falls  moft  heavily  on  the  poor,  as  is 
ufual  in  all  fuch  cafes.  The  rich  are  enabled  to  make 
moft  extravagant  profits  ;  and  many  of  them  are  literally 
preying  upon  the  middle  and  poorer  clallbs  of  fociety. 
The  entire  profits  of  bufmefs  arc  fwal lowed  up  by  the 
extravagant  difcounts  paid  on  bank  paper,  a  cafe  hitherto 
unknown  in  this  part  of  the  country.  And  thus,  in  a 
feafon  of  diftrefs  and  difficulty,  the  embarralTment  of  the 
citizens  is  doubled  or  trebled.  And  what  is  the  moft 
daring  and  profligate  pait  of  the  bufinefs,  the  men  who 


<« 


\  have  played  these  pranks  before  high  heaven  " 

are  impudent  enough  to  charge  the  whole  of  the  diftrefs 
to  the  account  of  the  adminiftration  ! 

*'  "Che  offence  is  rank — it  smells  to  heaven,** 

To  render  the  affair  more  fliocking,  more  grofs,  more 
hideous,  thofe  who  have  perpetrated  this  wickednefs,  hy- 

•  Mr  Lowell  h«s  attempted  to  deny  the  existence  of  this  a>  range- 
rnent.  Kutit  stands  on  too  strong  ground  to  admit  of  being  disproved. 
That  these  bills,  to  an  immoderate  amount,  were  transmitted  from 
Qiiebee  ;  that  they  were  drawn  for  the  support  of  the  armies  employed 
ii«  hostilities  against  this  country;  that  they  were  paid  for  ix  specie,  de- 
voted to  the  support  of  those  armies ;  are  facts  too  stubbort*  to  be  set 
aside.  They  ar«  abundantly  sufficient  to  establish  the  iniquity  of  the 
cttse. 


■»"■»"  HT' 


THE    OMVE    nilANCrt. 


UO.i 


pociitlcally  refufc  to  rejoice  in  the  vlfcloiics  of  tlicii 
country — as  '  unbecoming  a  moral  and  religious  people  !  !' 
There  is  not  iii  the  world  a  country,  b'  tht-'  United 
States,  wherein  fuch  a  crime  could  he  perj^Jiialcd  with 
impunity.  Even  by  our  mildelt  of  all  mild  conllitii- 
tions  itistreafon.  "  Treafon  again  11  the  United  States, 
•'  Ihall  confill  only  in  levying  war  again  ft  tliein,  or  in 
•*  adhering  to  their  enemies,"  GIVING  THEM  AID 
"AND  COMK(3RT."  If  fupplying  an  enemy  wuii 
fpecie  to  enable  him  to  cany  on  tl;e  war  again (1  their 
native  country,  be  not  giving  him  *' rtu/  and  L0>iifo}t,'' 
and  tliat  of  the  moil  fubltantial  kind,  I  know  not  what 
are  '^  aid  and  comfort."  > 

Every  man  concerned  in  the  hufinefs  of  furniflilng 
thefe  aids  to  the  enemv,  is  ipfo  jaclo  a  traitor.  His  lije 
has  been  forfeited.  That  he  has  not  expiated  his  crime 
by  paying  the  forfeit,  he  owes  to  the  ill-re(|nited  lenity  of 
an  infulted  government.  Every  perlon  who  knew  of 
the  commiflion  of  the  crime,  and  did  not  reveal  it,  was 
guilty  of  mifprifion  of  treafon. 

Compare  this  offence  with  the  rebellion  in  Maflachu- 
fctts  under  Shays,  the  wliifkey  infurreftion,  or  with  that 
of  the  poor,  deluded,  ignorant  Fries  !  you  may  as  well 
compare  the  Andes  to  Mount  Pleafant ! 

This  crime  in  England  would  fubjeft  the  perpetrator 
either  to  be  hung  and  gibbeted,  or  to  be  hung,  di  awn, 
and  quartered.  In  the  former  cafe,  his  carcafe  would  be 
expofed  to  be  devoured  by  ohfcene  birds  of  prey — in  the 
latter,  his  head  would  be  elevated  as  an  ornament  on  the 
tower  of  London,  to  deter  other  traitors  from  the  perpe-^ 
tration  of  fimilar  crimes. 

Let  us  once  more,  though  the  fight  turns  us  aghafl, 
examine  this  hideous,  this  execrable  fcene — which  finks 
the  perpetrators  and  connivers  into  the  lowelf  abyfs  of 
infdiny. 

Men  in  the  "  moral  and  religious''  town  of  Bofton 
are  ^  obliged  to  lend  their  money  to  their  own  government 
by  /iealth---bui  in  the  face  of  dav,  within  the  knowledge 
of  a  whol  c  community,  ^  they  fend  money  to  the  com- 


,!k 


u;,i. ,,  I.  ,1! m^'WlJ! 


.i^liWWii-iJ 


301 


TJIK    OLIVE    HRANCa. 


7)10)1  oirjny  lo I'lj^l''))!  hi  1)1  a;y(iinfl  their  own  coiDUry  I  Can 
Iiu.n.iii  iiatu.L'  (uik  lower?  Thcv  are  j;:^-  ''  Ido  moral  and 
/Oi;  reltgioui'  to  r.'jone  at  the  viclones  of  their  fclloic  citi- 
zens— out  Q4"  they  are  neither  "  too  moral  nor  too  reiigtous" 
to  aid  the  enemy  to  viclory  !  An  age  ot  penitence  in  Cick- 
clotli  and  allies  would  nut  efface  this  foul  blot  from  the 
rfcntcheon  ot   B()ih)n. 

It  IS  luidly  pollihie  to  add  a  fliade  to  the  enormity  ot 
ihis  crnne.  But  owii  c  i  ream  Han  ce  enhances  its  atrocity. 
It  was  pcrpetr.ited  while  negociations  for  peace  were  go- 
ing on,  the  fiiccels  whereot  it  had  fo  direct  a  tendency  to 
defcriT,  by  placing  the  Britilh  in  a  Hate  to  rife  in  thcii 
dcm  uu!s ;  although  the  guilty  perfons  profcfl'ed  to  be- 
long to  the  "  peace  party." 

The  innmenfe  magnitude  of  this  fnbje£l  induces  me  to 
dwell  a  little  longer  on  it.  And  as  I  may  have  been  led 
altray  by  the  blindnefs  which  is  felt  by  almoft  every  man 
who  forms  an  hvpotiiefis,  I  fhall  therefore  flate  anew  the 
naked  fads  ot  tlie  cafe,  unaccomj)anied  by  my  comments. 
Let  the  reader  duly  weigh  the  evidence,  and  acquit  or  con- 
demn the  accufed  town  as  he  nuv  judge  proper. 

Fir  ft,  engagements  were  entered  into  in  Bofton  by 
individuals  pledging  themfelves  not  to  fubfcribe  to  the 
government  loans. 

Secondly,  when  fome  of  them  afterwards  did  fubfcribe, 
tliey  found  it  necefTary  to  do  it  *'•  fccretly^'  to  avoid  the 
odium  which  was  excited  againft  all  who  lent  their  mo- 
ney to  the  government. 

Thirdly,  the  utmod  influence  of  that  powerful  inftru- 
rnent,  the  prefs,  and  likewife  of  the  pulpit,  was  employed 
to  difcourage  and  denounce  fubfcrihers  to  the  loans.... 
They  were  profcribed  as  "/rt/aw^wf"  in  the  public  pa- 
pers nioft  extenfively  patronized,  and  declared,  in  thofc 
papers,  and  from  the  pulpit,  to  be  abfolute  "  mur- 
derers'' 

Fourthly,  during  the  winter,  when  the  roads  were 
ja  wretched  order,   and    ^vhen   carriage   was  ot    rourfc 


trom 

freigl 


.  ^.. — —  _.  — ,   —  ,-, 

20  to  30  per    centum   dearer  than  the    common 
\X.  G.-1-  the.  Bofhn  hanhs  mad<i  immoderate,  ccntviued. 


"•-fc;4>-- 


'fllE    OLIVE  DIIANCH. 


A)3 


OH 


ohprffjive,  unprecedented,  and  hojlile  draja   ^f  fp^' 
tlie  Nezu  York  hanh. 

Fifthly,  dt  this  period  tlie  former  banks  had  in 
tlieir  vaults  an  miparalh-'lcd  quantity  ot  fpecic-'-o//*'  hund- 
red and  jifh  p''r  cent,  more  than  their  notes  in  circulation, 

Sixthly,  thcfc  drafts  were  continued  through  the 
fprin^  and  riiinmcr,  and  ohliired  the  banks  in  the  n, id- 
die  and  fouihern  (fates  To  far  to  cm  tail  then-  accom- 
modations, as  to  bring  the  c(»mmcrcial  world  to  the 
verge  of  bankruptcy.  Large  and  ruinous  bankruptcies 
did  take  place  :  twenty  and  upwards  occurred  in  New 
York  in  one  day. 

Seventhly,  the  drain  of  fpecie  was  carried  fo  far  that 
on  the  26ih  of  Augufl  the  banks  in  Baltimore — on  tlie 
2()th  tiiofe  in  Philadelpliia — and  on  the  3 ill  thofe  in 
New  York  were  reduced  to  the  painful  neceflity  oi 
fufpending  the  payment  of  fpecie. 

Eiglithly,  coteinporaneously  with  thefe  immoder.ite 
drafts,  a  very  large  amount  of  bills  drawn  by  the  govern- 
ment of  Lower  Canada,  were,  through  tlie  medium  of 
agents  in  Boflon,  dillributed  in  New  York,  Philadelphia, 
n  d   Baltimore. 

Ninthly,  thefe  bills  prodigioufly  increafed  the  balances 
again  ft  the  fouthern  banks,  and  the  power  of  drawing 
poITefTed  by  thofe  in  Bofton. 

Tenthly,  the  fpecie  received  for  thefe  bills  Jrom  Neiu 
York  was  forwarded  to  the  ai^ents  of  the  government  of 
Canada. 

Eleventhly,  vyhen  fubfcriptions  for  loans  were  opened, 
large  quantities  of  public  flock  were  fent  from  Bollon, 
and  thrown  into  the  markets  in  New  York,  and 
PhiJadelphia,  and  Baltimore,  and  fold  at  reduced  rates,  to 
lempt  the  monied  people  to  invefl  their  money  therein, 
and  thus  to  impede  the  fuccefs  of    the  pending  loans.* 

I  fubmit  all  thefe  ftrohg  fa£ls  to  the  reader.  Let 
him  examine  them,  and  decide  for  himfelf.  If  he  be 
an    upright,    candid,    honourable    man — if    he    have  a 


•| 


jl 


ll 


(J 


:i 


f:( 


*  1  here  p-iblio'    clia'.len^e  anv  man  to  disprove  ihese  clear  Rllegatioh's. 

26* 


30A 


TMK  OMVK    hnANtIt, 


(park  of  public  rpiiit  in  his  comnofition — it  \\6  lia"c 
not  rcfu  niucd  all  picttnrujiis  to  the  name  ol  ii  Walh- 
ingtoni.ui — he  will  pronoimcc  ft-ntcncc  ol  iiil.iniy 
again II  this  tr.jn(.i^;tion,  <tll  its  agents,  its  einillarics, 
its  accomplices,  and  ajrainU  all  who  connived  at  it. 
II'  this  be  ''  ftdcrabjia  vj  the  Bojlon  llamp;'  I  tiiilt 
the  hi^li-niinded  and  honefl  Icderalills  ol  the  middle 
and  Ibutlu-rn  fbttes,  will  renounce  the  odious  coimcxion, 
and  dii'rldiin  all  paitii  ipation  in  liich  nelaiious,  fuih  irea- 
ionahle  praTtices. 

Tl)e  millions  ol  dollar.';,  which  lorni  fo  eaj)ital  an  item 
in  Ml.  Oakley's  late  fj)eech,  were  loll  to  the  government 
by  this  confpiraey. 

A  icw  ambitious  demagogues  in  Bo  Ron  have  bccM  the 
guide  (d  Icderalills  throughout  the  union.  Tbev  have 
led  tlioni  a  devious  courle  tVom  the  paths  pielciibed  hv 
Wafhiiigton.  I'hc)-  have  allured  them  to  the  brink  ot 
inliurcvtion,  rebellion,  civil  war,  and  horrible  de\afta- 
tion,  wiiich  nre  all  Ivnonimous  with  a  dilloluiicm  ot 
the  union.  Whether  the  latter  will  have  magnanirnitv 
enough  to  regiin  the  honourable  paths  trom  which 
they  have  been  i'educed,  remains  to  be  feen.  'J'heir 
toteinporaneous  lame — their  charafter  with  pofterity 
— their  peace,  their  happinefs,  their  profperity — the 
late  of  their  wives  and  cliildrerj — the  defliny  ol  their 
country — the  ([ueiUon  whether  we  Ihall  be  united  as 
a  band  oF  brothers,  or  involved  in  civil  war,  with  its 
train  oi  horrors — are  all  at  Hake.  The  flake  is  Im- 
ment'e.  Pray  heaven  they  may  torm  a  juft  and  enlight- 
cd  decilion  ! 


CHAP.  XXXVII. 

J\lfissncfiusetts  compared  ivUh  Tennessee.  The  blind  lead- 
ing the  blind.  Profits  of  trade  fifty  per  cent .'  Road 
to  Uu'.n.. 

Never  did  faflion  more  completely  degrade  and 
fmk  a  pvC^.e,  than  llie  has  done  in  Mafl'achufetts. 
That   once  high-minded    ftalc   has   been   attacked    by 


>   \ 


'IIIK    OMVK    nUANCII. 


aor 


'•? 


if  h<^  lii<  'd 
,1  ;.  Walh. 
ol"    iMl.iniy 
I'tnilVcuics, 
ivcfl    at  it. 
f,,"   1    trull 
the    m'uMIt: 
cotiiicxion, 
s,  fiuli  lii-'a- 

>ital  an  item 
govcminent 

ivc  bccM  the 
Ihcv  have 
iiclciihcd  hy 
ihe  brink,  ot 
hie  lievafta- 
in\)Uiti(ja  ot 
jnagii.Hilinitv 
from   which 
Their 
poftcrity 
perity— the 
IV  ot  tlieir 
^e   united  as 
ar,   with  its 
ake    is   im- 
and  enlight- 


;en. 

1 


ie  blind  lead- 
cent .'    Road 

legrade  and 
laflathufetts. 
attacked    by 


the  BritiOi  with  a  final  I  force.  They  have  hccii  al- 
lowed without  an  effoit  to  difnienihrr  it.  T!u*v  h.ive 
eftabhihed  a  rek^ular  ^ovcrnmrnt  in  their  corupu'lls. 
As  no  effort  was  made  ()y  this  ftate,  wiiofe  population 
anioinits  to  above   70(»,ooo  fiee  people,  tv)  prevent  the 


COIH) 


ue 


IK  f 


o  none  is   niai 


le  to 


e\p( 


I    th 


e  eiu'inv 


En. 


llavt-.l  by  ia^iion,  (lie  wiiincs,  ami  Icohh,  and  nunniurs, 
and  winces,  and  t'areatens,  and  curies  t!ie  .iduiinillratuxi 
for  not  delending  her,  althoutrh  ihe  had  made  every  pof- 
(il)lc  exertion  to  enfeeble  the  government,  and  render  it 
incapable  of  defence. 

To  fuMi  up  the  whole.  MafTachufctts  is  pncrjrctic, 
firm,  bold,  daiing,  aiid  decifive  in  a  contefl  witii  tlic 
general  government.  She  will  not  abate  an  inch. 
She  dares  it  to  a  confliH.  She  fei/es  it  by  tlje  throat, 
determined  to  ftrangle  it  I  She  is  untimcabie  a,<  a  lion,  or 
a  tiger,  or  a  panther.  But  fhe  is  long-fuirering,  and  niild, 
and  patient,  and  harmlefs,  and  inofrenfive,  and  gentle,  and 
meek,  as  a  lamb,  or  a  turtle  dove,  when  Uie  comes  in 
contatl  with  the  etiomv  ! 

There  is  Tome  myllery  bangs  about  this  afTiir,  which 
time  alone  can  develope.  That  the  Britilh  lliould  attaci; 
Mali  tchufetts,  where  they  have  fo  many  friends,  and 
fpare  Pennfvlvania,  wheie  the  great  majority  are  hoitilc 
to  them,  is  fo  contrary  to  all  the  rules  of  true  policy,  as 
to  be  almoft  inexplicable.  I  daie  not  trull  myfeit  to 
hazard  a  corije6hire  on  the  fubjecl.  The  tame  acijuief- 
ceuce  of  fuch  a  powerful  (late,  in  fo  degrading  a  fituation, 
inufl  have  fome  extraordinary  motive.  None  occurs  to 
my  mind  that  I  would  choofe  to  commit  to  paper. 

But  mark  the  contrail ! — what  a  contrail  !  Tennef- 
fee,  with  a  large  territory  of  43,000  fquare  miles — a 
white  population  of  only  217,727,  and  a  black  one  of 
ij4,535,  to  guard  again  ft,  is  alfailed  by  the  moft  power- 
lul  combination  of  Indians,  and  thofe  of  the  braveft 
charafter,  that  ever  exifted  fmce  the  firft  fettlement 
of  this  country. — She  neither  winces — nor  \%qir  s — nor 
curfes  the  government — nor  (brinks  from  fiS^ger — nor 
threatens   a    reparation.       She    nfes    in    her    ftrength. 


-*j' 


I  / 


1  »• 


308 


THE    OLIVE    RRANCK. 


1/ 


She  girds  on  her  armour.  She  calls  her  fons  from 
their  counters  and  their  ploughs — from  their  anvils 
and  their  looms — from  the  bench  and  the  bar — from 
the  fenate  houfe  and  the  council  chamber — and  with 
a  very  fmall  degree  of  afTiftance  from  Georgia,  fhe 
vanquifhes  the  hardy  warriors  whom  a  falfc  reliance 
on  Biitifh  aid  had  decoyed  to  their  ruin.  Every  fuc- 
eefTive  effort  on  the  part  of  the  deluded  aflailants  is 
equally  pregnant  with  deftruclion.  Completely  van- 
quifhed,  they  bend  their  necks  to  the  yoke.  They 
curfe  that  feduftlon  which  tempted  them  from 
cafe,  and  comfort,  and  happinefs,  and  imprinted  on 
the  forehead  ot  their  nation,  the  broad  feal  of  perdi- 
tion . 

The  genius  of  Columbia  hides  her  face  with  fhame, 
and  forrow,  and  anguifh,  when  fhe  regards  the  ancient 
Hate  of  MafTachufetts,  degenerated  from,  and  a  difgrace 
to,  her  hardy  anceflors.  But  fhe  looks  down  with  piide 
and  pleafuie,  and  exultation,  on  the  youthful,  high 
fpirited,  patriotic,  and  heroic  Tenneffee  and  Georgia. 

It  is  hardly  pofTible  to  find  a  ffronger  contrafl — 
more  difgraccful  on  the  one  fide — more  honourable  on 
the  other. 

The  blind  leading  the  blind. 

There  is  no  man  whofe  zeal  in  inflaming  the  public 
mind,  has  equalled  that  of  the  writer  of  the  Road  to 
Ruin.  He  has  publifhed  as  many  different  fets  of  papers 
to  excite  the  abhorrence  and  delegation  of  New  Eng- 
land again fl  the  adminiflration,  as  would  fill  two  or 
three  volumes.  He  is,  in  politics,  as  very  an  enrage 
as  ever  lived.  So  violent  are  his  paffions  on  this  topic, 
that  they  lead  him  eternally  aftray.  He  commits  himfelf 
by  the  raofl  extravagant  pofitions,  which  nothing  but  the 
epidemical  madnefs  of  the  times  would  have  ever  fuffered 
to  efcape  the  keeneff  ridicule. 

In  "the  Road  to  Ruin,"  he  mofl  pathetically  deplores 
the  deflruftion  o'f  commerce,  and  the  introduftion  of 
manufaftures,  both  of  which  he  regards  as  equal  fub- 


THE    OLIVE    BnASCH. 


309 


jeft.;  of  lamentation.  And  to  make  the  flronger  appeal 
to  the  paflions  of  his  reader — to  enhance  the  misfor- 
tune ot  tlie  lofs  of  commerce — he  very  gravely  ftatcs 
its  profits  at  "///y  p^r  cent!!!''  It  is  hard  to  con- 
ceive a  higher  grade  ot  extravagance  and  folly.  The 
average  profits  of  fuccefsful  commerce  are  not  twelve 
per  cent.  And  if  the  whole  of  the  commercial  capital 
employed  during  the  la  ft  twenty  years  be  taken  into  view, 
including  that  of  the  merchants  who  have  become  bank- 
rupts, it  is  probable  that  the  profits  do  not  exceed  eight 
})cr  cent.  The  failures  among  that  clafs  are  verv  nume- 
rous, and  out  of  all  proportion  greater  than  among  any 
other.  Of  the  merchants  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia 
who  were  in  eminence  ten  years  ago,  I  think  I  am  war- 
ranted in  faying  that  nearly  two  thirds  have  been  utterly 
ruined.  It  is  well  known,  that  the  Weft  India  trade  has 
been  almoft  always  a  lofing  one — in  fafl,  of  the  few  for- 
tunate merchants  who  elcape  fhipwreck,  it  may  be  fairly 
laid, 

*'  Apparent  rari  nantes  in  gurgite  vaJloJ* 
riiis  writer  is  either  a  deceiver — or  he  has  deceived  him- 
Iclf.  In  either  cafe,  he  is  "  a  blind  leader  of  the  blind:" 
And  it  can  never  be  fufliciently  deplored,  that  a  man 
in  this  fituation  fiiouhl  have  had  fo  commanding  and  fo 
very  pernicious  an  influence  on  the  dejhmes  of  eight 
millions  of  people  and  their  pofterity.  He  has  chofen  a 
moft  felicitous  title — "  the  Road  to  Ruin" — for  verily  he 
has  fo  long  been  leading  his  deluded  followers  on  "  the 
road  to  ruin,"  that  he  has  brought  them  to  the  very  verge 
ol  the  precipice. 

Left  the  reader  fliould  fuppofe  I  have  done  him  injuf- 
tice,  1  fubmit  his  own  words.  If  I  have  tortured  his 
meaning,  on  my  head  be  all  the  cenfure  I  have  io  freely 
beffowed  upon  him — 


m 


•'  fr^  take  fiotn  trade  a  capilnl  tchtth  produceri  riiFTr  PERCENT, 
•jntl  n-p  inie^:  il  in  innri'i/ucluit."!,  PilKCARIOLS  IN  TUf.in  NATUur, 
whitli  tiiay  never  |)t'oiiiicc  i-.vciUy,  and  wliich  miy  prove  oui  rum."*' 

*  See  iu  the  Cxuininci,  vol  I.  page  441,  the  Roa4  to  Ruin,  No. 
Vlil. 


^ 


^:^^^,''^-^M^ 


---gT™i^y."^tff',t: 


FT'  / 


aio 


THE    OLIVK    BUANCH. 


\  'I 


This  ilioit  paragraph  is  as  iallaclous  as  any  equal  num- 
ber of  lines  ever  publiflicd.  Every  pofition  it  lays  flown 
is  deceptions.  When  the  wriier  emphatically  ftates,  that 
manufactures  ^xit'"'  precarious  in  their  nature,"  he  mull 
mean,  by  way  ot  contradillin6lion,  that  commerce  is 
blcft  with  ablolute  fecurity.  Both  are  arrant  errors. 
Commerce  is  proverbially  infecure.  No  degree  ot  pru- 
dence affords  full  fecurity  in  that  department.  Manufac- 
tures, prudently  managed,  have  as  much  certainty  as  any 
othei    human  undertakings  whatever. 

One  word  more.  What  dependence  can  be  placed 
upon  the  affertions,  the  infinuations,  the  allegations,  on 
fubjefts  abftrufe  or  difficult  to  decide  upon,  of  a  man 
who  makes  fuch  an  egregious,  fuch  a  momentous  error 
in  a  cafe  where  detetlion  treads  fo  clofely  on  his 
heels  ?* 


CHAP.   XXXVIII. 


r 


Pulpit  fiolUicfi,  Vile  prostitution  of  the  sacred  functions. 
^Massacre  on  board  the  Ocean,  jin  anthology  of  sedition. 
Success  of  the  ivar. 

Of  all  the  abominations  that  difgrace  and  difhonour 
this  country  in  thefe  portentous  times,  I  know  nothing 
more  deferving  of  reprobation  than  the  proftitution  ot 
the  pulpit  for  party  or  political  purpofes.  No  man  ot 
correft  mind  can  ferioufly  reflc61  upon  it  without  Ihud- 
dering  with  horror. 

A  clergyman  whofe  funftions  pre-eminently  require 
him  to  preach  ^^  peace  and  good  zvili  among  fnen"  a(- 
cends  the  pulpit  among  a  congregation  alfembled  to  unite 
in  praifing  and  adoring  tlieir  Omnipotent  Creator.  He 
holds  in  his  hands  the  Te/lament  of  Jefus  Chn/i,  which 
breathes  nothing  hut  peace — he  pronounces,  and  has  for  a 
text  the  W01  ds  of  Jefus  Chryi,  or  of  his  apofUes  of  the 

•  I  hei-e  make  n  piihlic  «polop;y  for  having  erroneously  .ascribed  these 
•editions  hiuI  inflammatory  piih'.ications  to  the  late  i»!Tiia>'le  Judge 
I  ovvell.  My  (listwncf  iroin  the  place  of  pubiieatiOQ  will,  I  trust,  apolo- 
gize, as  well  as  account  for  the  error. 


THE    OLIVE  BBAXCH. 


311 


mofi  pacific  tendency  :  and,  by  loay  of  a  fuUahk  accom- 
paniment^ tor  an  h  )ur  long  he  employs  all  his  zeal,  all  his 
talents,  all  his  Intliience,  lor  the  anti-chridian  purpofc  ot 
enkindling  among  his  hearers  the  mojl  baleful,  the  mojl  fu- 
rious pajfwns — of  preparing  them  for  uifurredion  and 
revolution— for  all  the  horrors  of  civil  war. 

•'  The  alternative  then  is,  that  if  you  do  not  wish  to  hecome  the 
slaves  of  lliose  who  own  slaves,  aiw!  wlio  are  then)selves  the  sl:ivi-s  of 
Vrertfh  slaves,  you  must  either  in  the  langUiige  of  the  <Iay,  (J3^  CUT 
TllK  COXNEXiON,  or  so  far  alter  the  national  coniiiHct,  as  to  insure 
yourselves  a  due  share  in  the  government." 

This  elegant  and  fublime  morceau,  which  breathes 
fo  much  ot  the  fpiiit  ot"  St.  Paul,  ''let  every  foul  be 
fubjeB  to  the  higher  powers,''  is  taken  tVoin  a  fermon 
preached  in  Bolton,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gardmer,  July 
23,  1812.  The  chriftian  injiinftion  of  ''cutting  the 
connexion,"  that  is,  rebelling  againft  their  own  govern- 
ment, wonderfully  accords  with  the  declaration  ot 
the  text,  which,  gentle  reader,  is — "  /  am  for  peace'* 
Pfalm  120,  V.  7.  Never  was  there  a  more  wondertul 
aflbciation — ^  "Cut  the  connexion" — and  ^"  I  am 
for  peace .'"  From  fuch  apoftles  ot  peace,  good  Lo.'-d 
deliver  us  ! 

This  pra6tice  is  abominable  when  a  congregation  is  all 
united---ali  of  one  fentiment,  if  fuch  a  cafe  ever  oc- 
curred. But  when  they  are  divided,  as  muft  necelTdrlly 
almofi:  always  happen,  what  a  view  does  it  prefent  ?  That 
portion  of  the  congregation  differing  fiom  the-  pol:tics  ot 
the  preacher,  are  reduced  to  the  alternative  of  either  ab- 
fentmg  ihemfelves  from  divine  worfliip,  or  fitting  patient- 
ly filent  under  the  undeferved  reproaches,  and  abufe,  and 
malediftions  of  a  man  who  flies  in  the  face  ot  all  his 
duties,  and  to  whom  they  cannot  offer  a  reply. 

It  is  impolfible  much  to  aggravate  the  hideoufnefs  of 
this  procedure.  But  when  the  preacher  co'nmits  li'mfelt 
by  falfehood,  even  undefignedlv.  as  fometimes  happens, 
it  caps  the  odious  climax.  On  the  eve  ot  a  general 
cletlion  a  few  years  fince  in  Malfachufctts,  to  anfwer  the . 


11 

'I' 


>    t,; 


.>4iW? 


1^1  . 


/I 


ijijiiSiSaeBsmsii^i^m. 


mm^iiititli 


W.r 


oi'3 


THE    OLIVE    niiANCH. 


'  ^ , 


r.^-iMfl 

^m 

n 

HfH 

1 

H'  <mR 

'%i 

Ipaj 

/ 

'^Hnf 

^ 

!i 

fii 

HyH  ^HH 

n 


> 


w 

i 

purpofes  of  party,  a  fabulous  ftorv  was  circulated,  oi 
the  niairacrc,  by  the  French,  of  the  crew  ot  a  vcfTcl 
called  the  Ocean.  It  was  one  ot  the  thoufanri  l-iirehoods 
invented  to  anfwer  momentary  piirpofcs  oi  the  iame 
kmd.  A  cicr/jjyman,  whole  name  I  fparc,  feized  the 
floiy  with  a\'idtty---wove  it  mto  his  fermon-'-and  invoked 
the  vengeance  of  heaven  on  the  murderers.  But  mark 
th'j  end  of  it.  The  holy  zeal  of  the  auditory  had  not 
time  to  cool,  when,  to  cover  the  preacher  with  conlu- 
fion,  a  reiuireclion  of  the  murdered  crew  took  place  ; 
they  returned  home  fafe  and  found  irom  the  flilettoes  and 
daggeis  of  the  blood-thirfty  French--.and  held  out  a 
itiong  memento  to  the  preacher  againft  a  repetition  of 
Inch  an  antichrillian  procedure. 

To  enable  the  leader  to  form  a  correft  eftimate  of  the 
abomination  which  I  have  here  denounced,  and  ot  the 
correftnefs  of  the  denunciation,  I  prefent  him  with  an 
antiudogv,  feletfed  from  the  fermons  ot  three  clergy- 
inen,  the  Rev.  MelFrs  Panth,  Ofgood,  and  Gardiner^  to 
whom  no  imall  portion  of  the  feeds  of  infurrefclion, 
rebellion,  and  civil  war,  fo  plentifully  fown  in  the  eaftern 
Hates,  is  juftly  chargeable.  Never,  fmce  the  firft  eflab- 
lifhment  ot  the  clerical  functions,  were  they  fo  miferably 
cmpl'iyed— -fo  contrary  to  the  divine  injunftions  of  the 
meek  and  mild  Jefus,  whofe  difciples  theie  reverend  gen- 
tlemen profefs  to  be—'Whofe  do6bines  they  protefs  to 
teach— and  whofe  example  they  profefs  to  follow,  and  to 
liold  out  for  imitation. 

*'  It  is  a  war  T'  wiexam/jled  in  tlie  history  of  tVe  worM;  Q;^  win- 
tonly  proclnimed  on  ihe  ny'  most  fnvohtu  and  groundlesa  pretences, 
againsi  a  nation  from  .<  hose  tVieiKlslup  we  might  derivt;  the  most  sigiinl 
advantages,  and  from  whose  hostility  we  hayt  reiison  to  -iread  thi  ^aost 
tremendous  losses."  Discourse  de'iv<.'red  at  Tr  nitij  Church,  lio-tnn, 
July  23,  1812,  on  a  day  of  public  fast,  by  J  S.  J.  Gardiner,  .1.  M. 
page  3. 

"  So  far  from  there  being  British  partizans  in  this  country,  it  is  difii- 
cult  to  find  an  individual  cundid  enough  to  lo  that  natio;i  cnn»mOi<  jus. 
tice,''  liicm,  page  10. 

*'  Every  pyovocat.nn  has  been  offered  o  G)fat  linti./'  uii  ■nir 
part  and  our  resentment  as  risen  in  proportion  as  shQ  has  she-M 
a  conciliating  spirit"    Idem,  pag«  12. 


h 


FIIE    OLIVE    UUANCH. 


313 


**  Wliat  consequence  is  it  to  you  if  tViey  be  repealed  or  not,  if  you  are 
sold  to  Napoleon,  at  you  iiave  reason  to  believe,  by  the  slaves  wlio  have 
abused  your  confidence  !  !"     Idem,  page  11 


Let 


bretb 


ill 


no  considorations  whatever,  my  brethren,  deter  you  at  all  tuner, 
and  in  all  places,  t'roni  execratnig  ilic  present  war.  It  is  a  war,  unjust, 
t'nolisli,  and  r>iinous.  It  is  unjust,  because  X/'  ^^cat  liritain  has  uf' 
fercd  us  even/  concession  short  of  luhut  she  conceives  -n'Oiitd  be  her 
ruin."     Idem    page  15. 

"  As  Mr.  Madison  has  declared  war,  let  Mr.  ISladison  carry  it  on." 
Idem,  page  17. 

"  If  at  the  command  of  weak  or  wicked  rulers,  they  undertake  an 
unjust  war,  each  man  who  voUinleers  his  services  in  such  a  cause,  or 
loans  his  uiuncy  for  its  support,  or  by  his  conversation,  his  writings,  or 
any  other  mode  «f  influence,  encour:i}(es  its  prosecution,  thai  man  is  iiii 
accomplice  in  the  wickedness,  ^  "  loMds  his  conscience  with  the  black- 
est criuKS,  Jj"  brings  the  guilt  of  blood  upon  his  s  ul,  and,  Jj^  in  thu 
sight  of  G Oil  and  his  law,  is  a  muvdewv.^'  .1  aoLinn  pvntest  against 
the  late  declaration  of-war,  in  a  discourse  delivered  on  the  next  LoriPs 
liny,  afer  the  tidings  of  it  -were  received.  By  David  Osgood,  D.  U, 
Pastor  of  the  church  in  Medford.     Pag«.  9 

"  Since  the  period  of  their  pretended  repeal,  scores,  ip  not  mux* 
DRKiis  of  our  vessels  had  been  seized  in  Fre  ch  ports,  or  burnt  at  sea 
by  French  ernis  rs,  while  many  of  their  unott'endiiig  crews  wt  re 
Hy  manacled  like  slaves,  confined  in  French  prisms,  or  forced  on 
board  French  ships  to  fght  against  England  "     Idem,  p^ige  II. 

•♦  Our  government,  with  a  hardihood  and  effrontery  Xj^  o/  which  de- 
inoHS  might  have  blushed,  persisted  in  asserting  the  repeal."     Ibid. 

•'  My  mind  has  been  in  a  constant  agony,  not  so  much  at  the  inevitable 
loss  of  our  t  mporal  prosperity  and  happiness,  au<l  the  complicated  mi- 
series of  war  asat  its  guilt,  its  outiage  against  heaven,  against  all  truths 
honesty,  justiee,  goodness — agai/isl  allthe  principles  of  social  happiness. 
Idem,  page  12. 

"  Were  not  the  authors  of  this  war  in  character  nearly  akin  to  (he 
deists  and  atheists  of  France;  were  they  not  men  of  j^"  hardened 
hearts,  seared  consciences,  reprobate  minds,  and  desperate  wickednesSf 
it  seems  utterly  inconceivable  that  they  should  Luve  maile  the  declara- 
tion."    Idem,  page  13. 

"  One  hope  only  remains,  that  this  last  stroke  of  perfidy  may  opeo 
the  eyes  of  a  besotted  peo;>le,  that  they  may  awake,  like  a  giant  from 
his  slumbers,  and  whk.\k  thkir  vkxgkance  on'  thkih  bkthatku.s,  by 
driving  them  from  their  stations,  and  placing  at  the  helm  more  skilful 
and  faithful  hands  "     Idem,  page  17. 

"  If,  at  the  present  moment,  no  symptoms  of  civil  M'ar  appear, 
^J' they  certain  y  -will  soon — unless  (he  courage  of  the  war  party 
should  fail  theui."     Idem,  pa  e  14. 

(rjr-  «« ^1  civil  ^oar  becomes  as  certain  as  the  events  that  happen  ac- 
cording to  the  known  laws  and  established  course  of  nature  "  Idem,  IS. 

"  Nothing  short  of  the  surrender  of  every  maritime  r  ghl  on  tli-  part 
of  (Jreat  Britain,  and  her  entire  prnstration,  would  satisfy'  Napoleoii 
and  his  Ami?  ■      I  pro-cousul-"    Idem,  page  13. 

27 


m 


:i 


■:V 


.-S'' 


'"ii; 


:  -^.i^HViJ^f-iV..    ■  ■ - 


v-«Kr 


/  VV' 


rr 


S 


%• 


1 1'* 


ai'if 


THE    OLIVE    URANCII. 


F-.imW 


«*  The  nritisli,  after  all,  suve  for  us  Uy  ihcir  convoys,  infinitely  more 
propti'ty  than  tlicy  (It-prive  us  of  .  ^'  IVlieve  they  take  oim  ship,  ti.ey 
protect  twenty  VVlui't  lli«j  commit  oi  c  oulPHge,  ility  ilo  rmmy  ucts  of 
kitiilness.''     JJiscuurs/;  by  the  liev.  J  fi.  J.  Guuliner  ^Ipril'J,  18l'2 

"  The  Isrueliies  became  weary  ot  yielding  the  fruit  of  their  labour  to 
pamper  their  plen<li<l  tyrants.  'I'hey  left  tlii-ir  (ifilitical  woes  I  hey 
separated.  (Tr'VVIlEUE  IS  OUU  VIO^ES?  If  here  in  the  rod  t^  his 
miracles  ?   ff/ter'e  is  Jiaroii  ?   Mas  !  no    voice  from    the   burning 

b'.tili  has  directed  (hem  here."      Discourse  delivered  at  liyjield,  ^Ipril 
7,  18  4.     By  EUjuh  Parish   D.  D    page  18. 

**  Sncli  IS  the  tempt  r  of  'meiican  republicans,  so  called.  A  new 
Inngu  ge  must  lie  invented  before  we  fttlempt  to  txpiusu  i^j  the  base- 
■ness  of  their  conduct,  or  ^^  the  rottetinens  oj  their  hearts  "  Idem, 
page  '21. 

"New  Eiii;lind  if  invaded,  would  be  obliged  to  defend  hersel*'.  Do 
you  not  then  owe  it  to  your  children,  and  owe  it  lo  your  God,  to  make 
peace  for  yourselves  ?"  Iticm,  page  2.3. 

'•  Alas'.o^  IVe  have  no  Jloses  to  stretch  his  rod  (ver  the  sea! 
03^  No  liel)>inon,  nor  (Jarmel,  nor  Zion  iiivitcs  us  acioss  the  deep." 
Idem,  pstge  14 

"  Which  sooty  slave  in  all  the  ancient  dominion  has  more  obsequious* 
ly  watclied  the  eye  ol  h:s  master,  or  flew  to  the  indulgence  ol  his  de- 
sires more  servilely,  tlian  the  smne  masters  have  wdted  and  watrtud, 
hnd  oVcvc'd  the  oi'der  of  the  great  Napoleon"  Discourse  delix>eredat 
JiyfeUl,  .'Ipril  8,  1813.     By  Elijah  Pariah,  D  D.    page  '21. 

'*  Let  every  man  who  sanctions  this  war  by  his  suflVage  or  iniluence, 
rrmen»l»er  that  he  is  labouring  to  cov  r  hims<  U'  and  his  country  with 
blood.  (j3^Thi:  blood  of  the  slain  will  cry  from  the  ground  against 
him."     Idem,  pnge  '23. 

"  How  will  the  supporters  of  0^  this  anti-thrist  m  tvarfare  endore 
their  sentencti — endure  their  own  refleriio  is —  _;  endure  the  fire  thuj. 
f'jr ever  burns — jjj^"  the  tvorm  which  never  dies — tlie  hosann  ahs  of  hea- 
ven —  ,^ ,  -utfule  the  smoke  of  their  torments  asceiids  fortver  ana  ever  ?" 
Idem,  p  ge  24. 


III! 


I  had  begun  to  write  fome  comments  on  thefe  extrafls. 
But  1  have  changed  my  purpofe.  I  leave  them  to  the 
judgment  ot  the  reader.  I  Ihall  fimply  fay,  it  the  preach- 
ers  believed  all  they  afferted,  what  tranfcendcnt  intatua- 
tion  !  It  they  did  not,  what  tranfcendent  turpitude  !  In 
either  cafe,  what  tranfcendent  prqfanati'-n  of  the  clerical 
fundions  ! — and  of  a  religion  breathing  peace  and  good 
will  among  men ! 


THE    OLIVE   DRANCIT. 


319 


vev  aiut  ever  :• 


Success  of  the  IVar. 

Tlie  enemies  of  the  adtninlftration  have  been  lavlfli 
of  their  reproaches,  on  the  ill-fuccers  of  the  war,  whicli 
to  many  oi  them  has  been  a  lulje6tot  as  much  triuniph, 
as  if  they  belonged  to  a  hoftile  nation-  --as  if  whatever 
dilhonour  and  difgrace  may  arife  from  it,  attach  thcmfelvcs 
wholly  to  the  adminiftration.  The  blindnefsand  pcrverfi- 
tv  of  the  public  mind,  on  this  topic,  are  utterly  aftouilh- 
ing.  Wiidtever  of  glory  is  acquired,  or  ot  dii^race  fuf- 
lained  in  the  war,  its  friends  and  enemies  paitakc  equally 
in  the  eyes  of  the  world. 

It  has  been  likewife  a  fubjoft  of  reproach  to  the  ad 
miniftration,  and  of  rejoicing  to  fome  deluded  people 
whom  party  paflTions  have  led  a  (tray,  that  theadminiilra- 
tion  has  abandoned  its  ground  on  the  fubjetl  of  improfT- 
ment  !  A  moll  melancholy  fubj"fl  of  rejoicing  !  It  is 
not  the  power  of  England,  nor  the  downfall  of  Bona 
parte,  that  has  produced  this  abandonment  ol  the  claims 
of  the  poor  fuffering  nautical  hero  !  No.  Internal  dif- 
cord,  more  fatal  than  tens  of  thoufands  of  embattled 
enemies,has  riveted  the  chains  of  iinpreflment  on  countlefs 
numbers  of  future  Hulls,  Perrvs  and  M'Donoughs. 

But  had  the  war  been  infinitely  more  unfuccelsful  than 
it  has  been,  it  would  not  be  furprifmq;.  It  would  have 
worn  a  different  afpe^,  and  covered  the  nation  with  the 
proudeft  laurels  had  "Bofton  oblcrved  an  impaitial  neu- 
trality. But  (he  has  perfeculed  the  government  with  as 
much  virulence,  and  malignity,  and  violence  as  it  it  was 
adminiftered  by  demons  incarnate.  She  has  involved  in 
the  vortex  of  difaffeftion  no  fmall  portion  of  the  popu- 
lation of  her  own  and  fifter  ftates,  and  has  done  England 
more  effective  fervlce^  than  all  her  armies.* 

*  or  the  stile  nnd  manner  in  wliich  the  povernment  has  been  asstiled 
on  the  subjett  of  tiie  loans,  the  reader  will  find  in  pp.  291,  '2,  and  3,  a 
*'ew  specimens.  Many  of  tUe  paragraphs  on  tliis  and  other  topics  dis- 
]ilay  a  decree  of  malice,  a»id  virulence,  r.nd  ribiildrv,  that  can  only  be 
equalled  by  the  writers  of  the  Courier  and  the  Times  \>'litsion  to 
the  enemy  is  visible  in  the  elaborate  defences  of  his  conduct  that  so  fre- 


^^ 


l\ 


•-'•^«IS.' 


^^ 


316 


'lilE  OLlvE    BUANOIl. 


I 


The  war,  to  tl»e  mortification  of  the  enemies  of  the 
eountry,  has  crowned  tlie  United  States  with  luival  glorv. 
We  have  more  impaired  the  naval  ftanding  of  Great 
Britain,  than  all  the  enemies  fhe  has  had  for  half  a  centu- 
ry, and  our  Gcotts,  and  our  Browns,  and  our  Gainei'es, 
and  our  Maeombs,  and  our  Jackfons  have  fatisfied  tiie 
world,  that  nothing  but  our  intefline  diviiions  prevent  us 
trom  acquiring  by  land,  honour  and  glory  equal  to  what 
has  been  acquired  on  tiie  water  by  our  Hulls,  Decaturs, 
Bainbridges,  Perrys,  Jc)iiefes,and  M'Donoughs. 

Let  thofe  infatuated  men  who  have  caught  the  gov- 
ernment by  the  throat,  and  almoft  llrangled  it,  by  the 
deffru6fion  of  its  credit,  and  by  Ihackling  all  its  efforts, 
only  refleft  tor  a  tew  minutes  calmly  on  the  c^cdi  of 
their  conduft.  They  defired  peace.  But  they  have 
veally  prolonged  the  war.  If,  notwith (landing  the  im- 
menfe  di  fad  vantages  under  which  it  has  been  carried  on, 
by  tiie  difaffedfion  of  fuch  a  large  body  of  our  citizens, 
we  have  fo  fiaralfed  and  crippled  the  trade  of  the  enemy, 
what  would  have  been  the  refult,  had  the  united  energies 
of  the  nation  been  employed  to  avenge  the  national  wrongs 
-"had  all  the  ports  of  the  eaflein  dates  contributed  their 
portion  towards  the  common  caufe  ?  Great  Britain  would 
in  that  cafe  have  been  fick  of  the  war  in  twelve  months. 
She  would  have  given  us  an  honourable  peace.  Millions 
of  debts  and  taxes  would  have  been  faved—thoufands  of 
lives  on  both  fides  prefcrved— and  the  deftruilion  of 
public  and  private  credit  prevented. ...The  two  nations 
would  have  been  long  finee  reflorcd  to  the  relations  of 
fommerce  and  friendlhip.  This  is  an  awful  view  oi  the 
labours  of  the  *' peace  parly."  >     . 

mifintly  appear  in  a  large  proportion  of  the  papers  puhlislied  to  liio 
easlwitnl.  Ami,  striinge  to  tell,  lliri-e  was  a  most  eljiborate  set  of  «s- 
srtvs  pulilished  tiiulcr  the  signature  of  I'acificus,  dcfeniling  tlie  nionitifiiR 
daini  to  IfijjOOOjO'XJ  of  acres  of  our  territory  as  a  tontiitiou  of  ^leacc. 


tltl 


_,  -jiifcR. 


.J!^" 


-■  I  Tr-Tw — "'?'• 


rilK    OLIVE    URANCFI. 


CHAP.  XXXIX. 


317 


I 


Parties  clinn:;^  nnnifin  and  rhnrncfpy.  Jacnhinn.  D<'fini' 
thm.  Unhnbj  . . ,  u^x^Ip  f'>r  pnwer,  the  cause  of  all  our 
difficulties.     Camlid  confession. 

Parties  fomftimcs  clwngc  their  names,  an(l  retain  tlieir 
principles.  B'lt  they  more  freqtientlv  chinrre  their  char- 
a£ler,  and  roudufl:,  and  |)rincii)!rs,  thoutrh  they  retain  their 
names.  On  m my  occafions  in  Kntrland,  whiir  arlmiiiif- 
trations  have  enforced  torv  mcaliires.  And  fonie  o\  the 
mod  whitTjrilh  mcafures  have  heen  ad()|)ted  hy  tory  ad- 
mini  (tratioiis.  Very  inany  of  the  democrats  in  1793, 
particniailv  in  the  wellern  ])arts  of  Pennr\lvania,  were 
rank  j  icoSii\s  and  dilorgani/ers.  Ti'.ev  (offered  violence 
to  the  iTovernment,  and  raired  an  inCiMrc^Hon  \o  fiee 
thcmfelvcs  from  a  uaUry  excife  on  wliilkev,  one  ol  the 
mofl;  rational  and  falntarv  taxes  ever  deviled.  Moft  of 
thofe  mei\  who  then  violated  the  laws  in  this  relpetl  arc 
now  (Iremio'is  fnpporters  ot  the  government. 

On  t!ie  other  hand,  the  federal! Its  of  1793,  4,  ,5  and 
6,  were  7/.mIoiis  ^^  friends  of  order  and  good  government.'* 
Ttiis  was  with  them  a  fort  of  watch- word.  They  were 
ardent  fiipnotters  of  the  honour  of  the  condituted  au- 
thorities, which  they  identified  with  their  own.  A  very 
lartre  portion  of  them  (till  adhered  to  the  good  old  faith 
and  prattice.  But  tnere  are  too  many  who  are  as  arrant 
jacobins  and  diforganizers,  and  as  ripe  for  tumult  and 
commotion,  as  the  mofl  violent  of  the  democrats  in  1793. 
They  may  murmur  and  may  curfc  me  for  this  declara- 
tion as  much  as  they  pleafe.  I  care  not.  They  may 
exhauft  Ernulphus'  whole  colleftion  of  malediClions  on 
my  devoted  head.  Bat  were  thcfe  maleditlions  ten  times 
told  over,  tliev  would  not  efface  from  their  efcutcheon 
the  foul  blot  of  jacobinifm.  A  jicohin  is  a  man  of  vio- 
lence in  politics — an  enemv  to  le^^fil  government — and 
ripe  for  revohi''on.  This  definition  is  fublfantially  cor- 
27* 


} 

4 


■  t 

■I 


IttlfttiiiMr'firtii  irmt.wfe  iiifi^Sy" 


rr^ 


Slf^ 


Tiir.  oLivF,  M HA. veil. 


reft.  And  therefore  every  man  Is  a  jacobin,  wlio  is  (or 
Jtriilinii  to  Elhn,  the  P)e/iJcnt  of  the  United  States,  chofcn 
by  the  unbiiiderl  votes  ot  a  tree  nation.  Every  man  is  a 
rank  ](Uob:n,  wlio  is  kn  puttinjr  down  the  admitiijhatio)t 
bv  loice.  Every  nian  is  a  rank  jacobin,  who  witli  Mr. 
Kinir  ot  Manacluifclts,  reiraidlefs  of  ilecencv,  decorum, 
propriety,  or  dij^nity  of  eharafter,  threatens  the  prehdent 
in  an  inuendo  with  n  halter.  To  the  difgrace  ot  the 
houfe  ot  reprefentatives  of  the  United  States,  this  vile 
piece  ot  Billinglgatc  was  fnflered.  Every  fnan  is  a  rank 
jacobin,  who,  witli  Mr.  Coleman,  prefers  zoar  with  all  its 
horrors,  all  its  dtvajlations,  to  a  continuance  of  the  prcfent 
ad  mi  III  jl  ration.  Every  man  is  a  rank,  furious,  envenom- 
ed, and  dangerous  jicobin,  wlio,  witli  Mr.  Blake,  a  quon- 
dam democrat,  ic'izcs  ihii  advantage  of  a  diitrefling  war, 
to  organize  one  portion  of  tliis  nation  again  11  the  rell.* 

In  fine,  every  num  who  wilhes  tiic  minority  to  trample 
down  and  rule  the  majority — who  himfelf  oppofes,  or 
"who  excites  oj)porition  to  the  laws — who  feeks  to  difiolve 
the  union  under  any  pretext  whatever — who  defends  the 
enemies  of  his  country  right  or  wrong,  and  flanders  and 


*  Mr.  Blake  is  likely  to  a  be  conspiruniis  character.  T<fcither 
MaraC,  Duiitmi,  nor  Robeispiene  ifsja?*  Iheir  eaiecr  will)  more  vio- 
Ifiice  thiiu  lie  has  alrt:a<Iy  «lis|ii!\yfti.  Nemo  ropenle  turpissiiims.  Hi; 
will  improve  H9  he  girs  on.  I  stake  my  exif^tenre,  Ihal  Hhouid  a  civil 
war  lake  place— as  will  be  the  case,  shimlij  Mr.  Blake's  cuiiasels  pre- 
vail — and  shniiUI  his  puity  not  be  crushed  in  the  conflict,  as  they  pro- 
bably  will — if  he  has  the  ascendency,  there  will  be  as  Ruinmnry  ;  ro- 
cess  with  ihedeniooratH  of  tlinl  qnarler,  as  there  were  with  the  rnyal- 
listH  under  the  guillottne government  oj  Paris— Men  are  monsters  all  the 
iiotld  overywhen  unrestrained  by  law  and  constitulton.  I  hope  in  the 
tcuilcr  mercy  of  God,  we  shut!  not  try  the  experiment.  But  if,  in  the 
vent;eanc«  of  heaven,  we  are  destined  to  do  it,  we  shall  add  our  ex- 
ample to  that  of  France  in  proof  of  the  theory.  Mr  Blake  tran- 
scends his  friend  Mr.  Otis  far.  The  latter  gentleman  is  snrely  vio- 
lent enunsh— -but  he  is  obliged  to  curb  and  restrain  the  convertid  de- 
mocrat. Perhaps  this  is  a  ru.ve  r/e/^uerre^perhaps  the  outrageous  vio- 
lence of  Mr.  Blake  is  intended  to  form  a  contrast  to  the  mildness  of 
the  project  of  .Mr.  Otis,  who  is  thereby  to  gain  the  popular  title  of  a 
modere-  Old  Lord  Burleigh,  or  Machiavel  himself,  could  not  arrange 
the  matter  belter  But,  reader,  I  do  hwi  guess  at  these  things.  I  am 
ton  for  removed  from  the  cbfss  board.,  tu  jv.dge  of  the  stale  of  tlic 


THE   OMVK    n RANCH. 


310 


ter.      Ncithrr 


degrades  Ills  own  government,  is  an  cnr.i^c — a  diforgan 
izcr---a  jacobin. 

Sti'us;s;li'.  fur  OJJicc. 

It  is  in  vain  to  (llfiruife  thctinth.  Would  to  God,  I 
had  a  voice  oi  thunder  to  prochiim  it  throno|h  the  nation  ! 
Ail  the  convuKions  and  danj^frs  ot  the  country  have 
arifen  troni  the  lull  ot  office  and  power.  To  embarrafs, 
difjjrdce,  and  render  odious  and  mipopular  the  men  pof- 
fefled  of  power  tor  the  purpofe  tot  dilplacing  them,  and 
vaulting  into  the  vacant  feats,  is  as  ancient  a  procedure, 
as  government  itfclt.  And  that  it  has  been  almoll  uni- 
vertally  prevalent  here,  is  beyond  doubt.  It  is  not  won- 
(lertul  that  thofe  whofe  grand  and  foie  ohj;'H  is  power, 
Ihould  pmruc  this  plan.  Tlie  depravity  ot  human  na- 
ture {'ufficicntly  accounts  tor  it.  But  tliat  a  large  portion 
ot  the  community  vviio  neither  have  nor  hope  tor  place 
ot  honour,  or  proMt,  (hould  lend  tliemielvcs  to  fuch  a 
Icheme — fliould  alU)W  themlclvcsto  be  made  inftruments 
to  be  wielded  tor  the  purpoft,* — that  they  Ihonid,  as  the 
iiillory  ot  this  young  country  has  often  verified,  (hut 
their  eyes  to  the  vital  interefis  ot  the  nation,  to  promote 
the  aggrandizement  ot  a    tew  men,  is  re. illy    aftonidiing. 

The  following  paiagraph  tiom  the  New  York  Even- 
ing Poll,  is  the  mod  candid  confeiRon  ot  a  finiiler  objeft 
that  ever  was  made.  While  we  are  expofed  to  all  the 
horrors  ot  war — our  cities  and  towns  liable  to  Copenha- 
genifm — our  wives  and  our  daughters  to  violation — it  is 
ingenuoufly  avowed,  that  all  thele  trighttu!  things  are  of 
710  account  compared  with  the  exclu/ion  of  Mr.  Coleman' $ 
friends  irom  office.  It  is  impollible  to  miftake  the  idea. 
It  is  capable  of  no  other  than  this  interpretation.  How- 
ever we  reprobate  its  want  of  public  Ipirit,  its  candour 
commands  applaufe. 

"  Wliat  would  bp  the  rahie  of  a  peace,  if  hot  attended  with  a 
«baiii;e  of  ihoRe  rulers  who  are  driving  the  counlrv  headinnt;  to  ruin  ? 
A   PEACE,   tf  such  be  Us  effects,   WOULD  BE  THE   HEAVIEST 

OF  CURSES.— TAerc  isno  event  that  could  happen— no  po.tsiblc  condition 
f>f  things  that  can  he  tMagineil,  ivhich  ounlit  not  to  be  dtplned,  and  avoided, 
as /Ae  HEAVIEST  OF  CALAMITIES,  if  Us  tendmcy  is  topeipeluate 


,s 


%\ 


'     'I 


m 


»-■'» 


I , 


'V  'I 


IS 


i-n 


i  . 


;}' 


M 


.'i«'U 


fHfc    OI-IVK    lll(.\Nl!H. 


pntvei-  in  I  fit  prqff'gtite  hands  that  for  iixteen  yearf  hnvt  gnverneH  thh  uttf 
happy  cuunl'j/.' 

The  man  who  can  re;ul  thcfe  dcclanitions  wltlioiit  flnul- 
dcring  with  liwnor,  unill  li.ivc  his  moral  tcchii^s  dcllioy- 
C(l,  or  at  IcaU  bkiiitcd  to  an  extreme  dej^iec.  'riiefc  'en- 
timents  huvc  appeared  in  other  papeis  befides  the  New 
York  Evening  l*olL 

This  par<igrai)h  ad'ords  a  complete  cine  to  all  the  con- 
vnlfivc  Hriiggles  in  congre(s---all  the  elloits  to  prevent 
the  (iiccels  ot  every  meaiure  calculated  to  in<'et  the  pre- 
fent  cnrergency.  The  pcjlledion  ot  power  on  the  one 
hand,  or  the  perdition  ot  the  country  on  the  otliei,  are 
the  alternative.  The  aHors  have  no  hefitation  about 
forcing  the  choice  on  their  ill  flarred  country.  i 

CHAP.  XL. 

JUiherality  of  prfjufiiccs  «^y//w.s7  furc'ii^nera.  Unz^'ntcfiil 
on  the  part  of  .ii/u  r/r«.  Ivishmoi  nntl  Frenclnm'U  pPiU- 
liarljf  objects  of  (liHlike.  l^pntisj/lvduia  line-  K.vtreme. 
fiujf'-r'nii^'.  Ti'inj/liii;:;  (dlKrcnifiits.  Urislinki'n  virtua 
and  liei'uism.     Jruuld.     SU(ts  Ueane.     Hefu^ees. 

"The  rffll  rniificn  of  tlie  wnr  musl  bp  Irnrcil  io  ♦  ♦  *  *  *  niid  llie 
indiinicr  of  wnrtfi/eos  JoieiQiierfi  ov»  c  itif  iimsb,  pixI  ^hv  <l«*'il»eial(om» 
of  tlir  t:<iv(  riiiiit'iit  III  ull  itf)  hirtiulii's  "  t^epti/  of  llie  house  of  repre' 
stntaltici  of  MassUchusetts  to  tht  speecli  of  governor  Strong,  Juncy  is*  I  4. 

"  Tread  on  a  ivorm,  and  it  will  turn.^* 

I  have  long  panted  lor  a  fair  opportimity  of  hand- 
ling this  topic.  I  have  long  felt  indignant  at  the  in- 
difcriminate  abufe  hurled  on  foreigners  in  general-— 
and  more  particularly  on  the  Irifh,  on  whole  devot- 
ed heads  "  the  vials  of  rvralh"  are  incefTantly  *'  poured 
out." 

There  is  no  country  that  owes  more  to— there  is  no 
country  has  more  need  of---foreigners.  There  is  no 
countiy  in  which  they  are  more  the  obje£ls  of  inve6live, 
©f  reproaches,  of  envy  and  jealoufy. 


TIIK    OLIVR   nUANCU. 


9»i 


i*H  tfiit  ut^ 


A  jcaloufy  of  foreigners  prevails  in  Enjrland.  Rut  i^ 
IS  couhnc'il  to  tlic  canaille,  vviio,  tiuii(llin|»  their  barrows — 
lu'oeping  the  llreets — or  pmruing  their  j»pnteel  offices  of 
ciiimncy  Iweeps  and  night  men — hate  and  defpile  the /w 
dfici  tail  pdtUyvooi—tlie  hlundenng  Injhman—-the  fimpfit 
Jawney  Scotcliman—the  leek-eating  li^*dcliman.  In  fa6l, 
every  man  who  wears  a  coat  dilFerent  from  their  own.  or 
wlio  dilplays  anv  indication  that  proves  him  not  to  he  a 
"  true-born  Knglilhman,"  is  an  objetl  ot  contempt  to  an 
l^nj^iUh  (cavenger. 

Hut  it  is  not  thus  in  high  life  in  that  country.  A  fo- 
reigner of  genteel  manners---decent  addrefs-.-and  good 
^haraRcr,  is  treated  with  the  attention  and  pohtenefs  he 
dclerves. 

With  a  degree  ot  magnanimity,  deferving  of  praife, 
and  worthy  of  being  made  an  example,  England,  who 
pofTefTes  abundance  of  artifts  of  high  ftanding  and  fter- 
ling  merits,  appointed  the  American  Weft,  as  prefident 
ot  the  royal  academy.  France,  v.'ith  a  conftellafion  of 
native  talents  never  exceeded,  confided  her  finances  to  a 
Swifs  banker,  Necker.  At  another  period,  fhe  entrullcd 
lier  armies  to  a  Berwick,  to  a  Saxe.  Rullia  placed  over 
her  fleets  Scotch  naval  heroes.  In  faft,  go  through 
Chriflendom,  and  you  will  find  there  is  no  country  fo 
favage,  fo  uncultivated,  or  fo  highly  polifhed  and  re- 
fined, which  docs  not  cheerfully  avail  itfelf  of  the  prof- 
tered  talents  of  the  foreigner  who  makes  his  permanent 
domicil  there. 

But  in  this  *•  7nofl  enlightened''  of  all  tlie  enlightened 
nations  ot  the  earth,  party  fpirit  has  cxcitetl  a  peculiar 
degree  of  malevolence  again  ft  the  Irifh  and  the  Frcnch--- 
aiid  for  the  fame  rcafon,  becaufe  England  is  hoflile 
to  both.  The  urbanity,  the  mildnefs,  the  equanimity, 
the  refinement,  and  the  politenefs  of  the  Frenchman  avail 
him  nothing.  He  is  an  objetl  of  jcaloufy  and  hate,  in 
Ipite  of  all  his  own  good  and  endearing  qualities,  and  in 
fpitc  too  of  the  fervices  his  nation  "  in  the  fiery  hour  of 
trial"  rendered  the  United  States.  The  poor,  perfccuted, 
prufcribed,  and  opprefl'ed  Irifhman,    hunted  out  ot  his 


ik, 
■n 


X 


i   I 


If 

m 

i      ;' 


•'*:'< 


(' 

1 

) 

fm. 

J 


322 


THE    ©LIVE    BKANCH. 


own  country,  and  knowing  the  value  of  liberty  here,  from 
the  |>rivatiuM  ot  it  there,  finds  the  antipathies  of  his  loids 
and  nialtcrs  transferred  to  many  of  thofe  whofc  fellow 
citizen  he  intends  to  become.  To  fome  ol  thefe  narrow, 
infatuated,  bigottcd,  and  illiberal  men,  a  Hottentot,  or  a 
CafFrarian,  or  a  Japanefe,  would  be  more  acceptable  than 
an  Irilhman. 

One  circumftance — were  there  no  other  on  record — 
ought  to  endear  to  Americans,  the  name,  the  country  of 
an  Irilhman.  It  has  a  high  claim,  not  cancelled,  on  the 
pen  of  the  hiftorian.  It  has  not  yet  had  juftice  done  it. 
Let  me  grace  my  book  with  the  narrative. 

Duiing  the  American  revolution,  a  band  of  Irifhmen 
were  embodied  to  avenge  in  the  country  ot  their  adop- 
tion tiie  injuries  of  the  country  of  their  birth.  They 
formed  the  major  part  of  the  celebrated  Pennfylvania 
line.  They  fought  and  they  bled  tor  the  United  States. 
Many  of  them  fcaled  their  attachment  with  their  lives. 
Their  adopted  country  vas  fhanietully  ungrateful.  The 
wealthy,  the  independent,  and  the  luxurious,  for  whom 
they  fought,  were  rio'.ing  in  all  tiie  comforts  and  fuperflu- 
ities  ot  life.  Their  defenders  were  literally  half  ftarved, 
and  half  naked.  Their  fhoelefs  feet  marked  with  blood 
their  tracks  on  the  highway.  They  long  bore  their  griev- 
an«"es  patiently.  They  at  length  murmured.  They  re- 
monlfrated.  They  implcred  a  fupply  of  the  nece^Tarics 
of  life.  But  in  vain.  A.  deaf  ear  was  turned  to  their 
complaints.  Thev  felt  indignant  at  the  cold  negleft — 
at  the  mgratitude  of  that  country  for  which  fo  many  of 
their  companions  in  arms  had  expired  on  the  crimfoned 
field  of  battle.  Thev  held  arms  in  their  hands.  They 
had  reached  the  boundary  line,  beyond  which  forebear- 
ance  and  fubmidion  become  meannefs  and  pufillanimity. 
As  all  appeals  to  the  gratitude,  the  juftice,  the  generofity 
of  the  country  had  proved  unavailing,  they  determined 
to  try  another  courfe.  They  appealed  to  its  fears.  They 
mutinied.  Thev  demanded  with  energy  that  redrefs  tor 
which  they  had  before  fujjplicated.     It  was  a  noble  deed. 


Li 


THE   OLIVE  BRANCH. 


323 


liere,  from 
his  loids 
3fc  tellow 
(e  narrow, 
entot,  or  a 
stable  than 

I  record — 
country  ot 
ed,  on  the 
ce  done  it. 

f  Irifhmen 
their  adop- 
•th.     They 
enHfylvania 
lited  States, 
their  lives, 
etui.     The 
tor  whom 
id  fuperflu- 
alt  ftarved, 
with  blood 
their  griev- 
They  re- 
nece^tarics 
ed  to  their 
negleft — 
|fo  many  of 
crimfoned 
ids.     They 
ih  forebear - 
hllanimity. 
generofity 
determined 
lars.     They 
redrefs  for 
noble  deed. 


I  hope  in  all  fimilar  cafes,  fimilar  meafurcs  will  be  pur- 
fued. 

[Let  me  digrefs  for  a  moment.     I  cannot  refill  the 
temptation  to  bear  my  teftimony  again  ft  a  condatt  con- 
fiderably  analogous  to  what  I  have  reprobated.     Philadel- 
phia was  lately  ftruck  with    fear   of   an    invadmg   toe. 
Thoufands  ot  citizens,  many  ol  them  hundreds  o(  miles 
remote  trom  us,  volunteered  their  ferviccs  in  our  delence. 
Tiiey  left  their  homes,  their  fire- fides,  their  parents,  their 
wives,  their  children,   and  their  bufinefs,  to  protect  us. 
And  we  made  them  a  bafe  return.     Thev  pined  and  lan- 
guiihed   in  the  hardlhips  of  a  camp,  negle6ted,  grofsly 
negleded  by  thofc  for  whom  they  were  piepared  to  rifque 
their    precious   lives.     Contributions  were  requefted  by 
the  committee  of  defence  for  the  comfoit  of  the  foldiers, 
and  for  the   fupport  of  their  wives  and  children.     It  is 
painful  to   ftate,   that  in  a  city  where  there  are  probably 
one   hundred   pcrfons    worth   above    2,50,000   dollars--- 
thirty   worth  3  or   400,000-— and   fome    fiippofcd  to  be 
worth  millions— -the  whole  contribution  did  not  exceed 
5,000  dollars— a   fum  which    half  a  dozen  individuals 
ought  to  have  contributed  themfclves. 

"  The  quality  nf  mercy  is  not  strained  ; 
**  It  (lroi>petli  as  tlie  gentle  ilew  from  heaven 
*•  L'pnn  Uie  plain  htiieatli      It  is  twice  bless'd, 
*'  It  blesseth  him  thai  gives,  and  him  that  takes." 

The  fun  has  not  (hone  on  more  defpicahle  conilufl.] 
To  return  to  the  Pennfylvania  line.  The  intelligence 
was  carried  to  the  Britifli  camp.  It  there  fptead  j<?y  and 
gladnefs.  Lord  Howe  hoped  that  a  period  had  arrived 
to  "  rebellion,''  as  it  would  have  been  termed.  1  iiere 
was  a  glorious  opportunity  of  crufhing  the  half  formed 
embryo  of  the  republic.  He  counted  largely  on  the 
indignation,  and  on  the  refentment  of  the  natives  of  "  tke- 
emerald  i/le.'*  He  knew  the  irafcibility  of  their  tem- 
pers. He  calculated  on  the  diminution  oj  the  ftrr-ngth 
of  "  the  rebels,''  and  the  accefiion  to  the  numbers  ot  the 
royal  irmy.  MefTengers  were  difpatched  to  the  mutineers. 
They  had  carte  blanche.     They  were  to  allure  the  poor 


'  \ 


ul 


i 


4fj 


mM4^-' 


BMBSH 


924! 


THE   OLIVE   BRAXea. 


I 


Hibernians  to  return,  like  prodigal  children,  from  feeding 
on  hufks,  to  the  plcntii'ul  foid  of  their  royal  mafter. 
Liberality  herlell' pre(id(?d  over  his  offers.  Abundant 
fupplies  of  provilions-. -comfortable  clothing  to  their 
heart's  defire— all  arrears  of  pay— bounties— and  pardon 
for  paft  offences,  were  offered.  There  was,  however,  no 
hcfitation  among  thefe  poor,  neglefcled  warriors.  They 
refilled  to  renounce  poverty,  nakednefs,  fuffering,  and  in- 
gratitude. Tiie  fplendid  temptations  were  held  out  in 
There   was  no  Judas,   no  Arnold  there.     They 


vain. 


i'eized  the  tempters.  They  trampled  on  their  fhining  ore. 
They  fent  them  to  their  general's  tent.  The  miferable 
wretches  paid  their  forfeit  lives  for  attemping  to  (educe  a 
hand  ot  ragged  and  forlorn,  but  illuflrious  heroes.  We 
prate  about  Roman,  about  Grecian  patriotifm.  One  half 
of  it  is  falfe.  In  the  other  half,  there  is  nothing  that  ex- 
cells  tliis  noble  trait,  which  is  worthy  of  the  pencil  of  a 
Weft  or  a  Trumbull. 

Let  me  reverfe  the  fcene.  Let  me  introduce  fome 
charafters  of  a  different  ftamp.  Who  is  that  mifcreant 
yonder—  dark,  defignirig,  haggard— treachery  on  his 
countenance— a  dagger  in  his  fiand  ?  Is  it  not  Arnold  ? 
It  is.  Was  he  an  Irishman  ?  No.  He  was  not  of  the 
dcfpifed  caft,  the  foreigners.  He  was  an  American.  Irilh 
blood  flowed  not  in  his  veins.  '    • 

Behold,  there  is  another.  Who  is  he,  that  Judas  like, 
is  pocketing  the  wages  of  corruption  for  which  he  has 
fold  his  country  ?  Is  he  an  Irifhman  ?  No.  He  is  a 
native  American.     His  name  is  Silas  Deane. 

But  furely  that  numerous  band  of  ruffians,  and  plun- 
derers, and  murderers,  who  are  marauding  and  robbing-— 
who  are  (hooting  down  poor  farmers  and  their  wives,  and 
their  cliildren,  are  ^'Joreigners."  It  is  impoffible  they 
can  be  natives.  No  native  American  would  perpetiate 
fuch  barbarities  on  his  unoffending  fellow  citizens.  It  is 
an  error.  They  are  refugees  and  tories— all  native  born. 
I  am  an  Irifhinan.  With  the  canaille  in  fuperfine 
cloths  and  filks,  as   well  as  with  the   canaille  in  rags 


/ 


THE    OLIVE    BUAN'CII. 


3  ^^6 


feedhig 
mafter. 
)undam 

0  their 
pardon 

;vcr,  no 

They 

and  in- 

1  out  in 

They 
ling  ore. 
liferable 
(educe  a 
;s.  We 
3ne  halt 
that  ex- 
icil  of  a 

ice  fome 
iiifcreant 
on  his 
Arnold  ? 
ot  of  the 
Irilh 

das  like, 
he  has 
He  is  a 

nd  plun- 
bbing— 
ves,  and 
ible  they 
erpetiate 
IS.  It  is 
ive  born, 
u  per  fine 
in  rags 


and  tatters.  This  is  a  fuhjeft  of  reproach.  Tor  every 
man,  woman  or  child,  bafc  enough  to  attach  dilgracc  to 
any  perfon  on  account  of  his  country,  1  led  a  moll  lov- 
creign,  an  ineffable  contempt.  Let  them  move  in  what 
fphcrc  they  may,  wliether  in  coffee  houfes  or  ball  looms, 
orpallaces,  or  in  hovels,  or  garrets,  or  cellars,  they  arc 
groveling,  fordid  and  contemptible — To  exprcfs  the 
wliole  in  two  woids---i»ity  there  were  not  words  rnorc 
forcible— they  are  MERE  CANAILLE. 

I  glory,  1  feel  a  pride  in  the  name  ot  an  Irifhman.... 
There  is  not  under  the  canopy  ot  heaven  another  nation 
which,  ground  to  the  earth  as  Ireland  has  been,  for  fix 
hundred  years,  under  fo  vile  a  pro-confular  government 
— almoll  every  governor  a  Veries,---a  government  whofo 
fundamental  maxim  is  "  divide  and  deit,rov"---whofe  ex- 
iftence  depends  on  fomenting  the  hollility  of  the  proteft- 
antagainft  the  prelbyterian  and  catholic,  and  that  of  the 
cathoMc  againfl  the  proteftant  and  prefbyterian- -there  is 
not,  I  fay,  another  nation,  which,  under  fuch  cii  cum  (lan- 
ces, would  have  preferved  the  (lighted  ray  of  refpettabili- 
ty  of  character. 

Motwithftanding  all  thefe  grinding,  thefe  debafing 
»-ircumltances,  t[»ere  is  no  country  in  Chrinendom.  which 
has  not  witnelfed  the  heroifm,  the  gencrofitv,  the  liberality 
ot  Irilhinen — none,  where,  notwuhdanding  the  atrocious 
calumnies  propagated  againd  them  by  their  opprclfors, 
they  have  not  forced  tiieir  way  through  the  thoinv  and 
briery  paths  ot  prejudice  and  j^'aloufy,  to  honour,  to  el- 
teem,  to  lefpe^f.  '^  '* 

It  has  been  faid  that  they  are  in  this  country,  turbulent, 
and  retiattory,  and  diforderly,  and  fa6tious.  The  charge 
is  as  bafe  as  thofe  by  whom  it  is  advanced.  There  is' 
more  turbulence,  more  fa6\ion,  more  difaffettion  in  Bof. 
ton,  whofc  population  is  ianly  33,000,  and  which  has  as 
tew  foreigners  as  any  town  in  the  world,  than  there  is  in' 
the  two  dates  of  Penulylvania,  and  New  York,  witli  a 
population  ot  1,700,000,  and  which  contain  probably 
two  thirds  of  all  the  native  Irifhmen  in  this  country. 
While  nativ'- born  citizens,  fome  of  whom  pride  thcnv^ 
28 


y% 


■v.!- 


I      I 

1 


'•V»i 


t  J 


nr 


6i% 


THE   OLIVE    BnANCtf, 


h 


felves  on  Indian  blood  flowing  in  their  veins,  and  others 
who  boall  ot  a  noly  deCcent  tiom  thof'e  '\faintsd pilgrims" 
whom  Britilh  perlecution  drove  to  the  howling  wilder- 
iiels,  aie  fdcrilegioufly  and  wickedly  deftroying  the 
glorious  (would  to  heaven  I  could  fay  the  immortal) 
Idbric  of  our  almolt  divine  form  of  government.  Of 
the  Irilhmen  m  this  country,  high  and  low,  ninety  nine  of 
every  hundred  are  llrenuoufly  labouring  to  ward  off  the 
Ihoke. 

I  laid  there  is  no  country  that  owes  more  to  foreiorn- 
ers  than  t!ie  United  States.  I  owe  it  to  myfelf  and  to  my 
r.ader,  not  to  let  a  point  of  fuch  importance  reft  on 
mere  airertion.  Of  tlie  men  who  acquired  diftin6tion 
in  tiie  cabinet,  or  in  the  field,  during  the  revolutionary 
v/ar,  a  very  large  proportion  were  foreigners.  In  *'  the 
times  that  tried  men's  fouls,"  their  fervices  were  accepta- 
ble— they  were  gladly  received,  and  courteoufly  treated. 
But  now,  like  the  fqueezed  orange,  they  are  to  be  thrown 
afide,  and  trodden  under  foot. 

The  illuftrious  La  Fayette,  Gen.  Lee,  Gen.  Gates, 
Gen.  Stewart,  the  ineflimable  Gen.  Montgomery,  Gen. 
Pulafki,  Gen.  Kofciufko.  Baron  Steuben,  Baron  De 
Kdlb,  Gen.  M'Pherfon,  Gen.  St.  Clair,  Gen.  Hamilton — 
Robert  Morris,  the  amiable  Charles  Thompfon,  Judge 
Wilfon,  Baron  De  Glaubec,  Thomas  Fitzfimons,  Wil- 
liam Findley,  and  hundreds  of  others,  eminent  during  the 
revolution,  were  foreigners,  and  many  of  them  were  not 
excelled  for  fervices,  and  merits  by  any  native  American, 
whether  the  dingy  blood  of  a  Pocahontas  crawled  through 
his  veins,  or  whether  he  defcended  in  a  right  line  from 
any  of  "  the  Pilgrims"  that  waged  w^ar  againft  the  po- 
tent Mafldfoit. 

Since  the  preceding  pages  were  written,  I  have  met 
with  a  pamphlet  of  infinite  merit,  faiJ  to  be  written  by 
one  of  the  authors  of  Salmagundi,  from  'vhich  I  quote 
the  following  ftatement  with  pleafure — as  affording  an 
able  vindication  of  the  Irifh  nation,  and  a  fair  detail  of 
the  opprelFions  and  wrongs  they  have  endured.  In  the 
name  of  the  nation  I  thank  the  writer  for  this  generous 


Wil. 


THE    OLIVE    BRANCH. 


327 


f 


and  others 
i  pilgrims'' 
ig  wilder- 
oying  the 
immortal) 
ment.  Oli 
lety  nine  of 
^rard  off  the 

to  foreign- 
f  and  to  my 
ice  reft  on 
diftinSlion 
ivolutionary 
;.  In  *'  the 
ere  accepta- 
lufly  treated, 
to  be  thrown 

Gen.  Gates, 
imery,   Gen. 
1    Baron  De 
Hamilton — • 
pfon,  Judge 
mons,  Wil- 
li during  the 
were  not 
American, 
led  through 
ht  line  from 
linft  the  po- 

I  have  met 
written  by 
hich  I  quote 
affording  an 
fair  detail  of 
ired.  In  the 
this  generou? 


:m 


effufion,  of  which  the  value  is  greatly  enhanced  by  \hc 
extreme  rarity  ol'  fuch  liberality  towards  Ireland  oi  Infh- 
men  on  this  Tide  of  the  Atlantic.  The  work  in  qiu  nioii, 
has,  moreover,  the  merit  ot  being  an  excellent  dcicncc 
of  this  country  again  ft  the  abufe  ot  Biitilh  critics. 

"  The  history  of  Irelnnd's  unhappy  connection  with  F.tip:!«n»l  rxliib'ils, 
from  first  to  last,  a  detail  of  the  most  pe  srvt'riii{>;,  {;»"'"<?.  Rrimlin!;.  in- 
sultini;,  anil  svstemnlic  opprr&sion,  to  be  foiiiul  any  wln-if  V  >  ci'Vpt 
among  the  helots  of  Spuria.  I  hare  is  not  m  natioiitil  tii  line:  tliiit  I'as 
not  been  insiiiied  ami  irodiien  umier  fnot;  a  nationtil  r  trlit  th.it  lins  uol 
l)een  withheld,  untd  teai'  forced  it  from  ihr  Rrasj)  ol  Ki,Kl'i"d  ;  or  a 
dear,  or  ancient  prejudice,  that  has  nni  bcefi  violHtcd  in  that  abnse<l 
country.  As  Christians,  t!«e  people  of  Irelini'l  have  been  denitrl,  under 
penalties  and  disqualiflnations,  tiie  exercise  of  ihe  rites  of  the  catbnlie, 
religion,  venerable  for  its  antiquity,  adtniraiile  for  its  unilv,  an«i  eonse- 
erateii  by  tlie  belief  of  some  of  the  hrst  men  th^t  ever  breathed  Xs 
men  ihey  have  been  deprived  of  the  common  ri;;lnsof  Hritish  subj'ots, 
tinder  the  pretext  that  tln'V  were  incapable  of  enjtivin.s;  ihcm  ;  wbiid* 
pretext  had  no  oilur  foundation  than  tlicir  ri;Gistaiice  of  t.ppi't ssi n, 
only  the  more  severe  In  being  8unrtione<l  by  the  liiu?  i^'  E  jrlami 
first  dewed  them  the  means  of  improvemcvt  ;  aud  {}^  then  iusxiUed 
them    ivith  the  imputation  of  burhurism''"' 

While  on  the  point  of  clofing  this  pacre,  I  have  been 
furnifhed  with  a  noble  effufion  on  this  fubjeft,  from  very 
high  authority.  Its  fterling  merits,  and  its  juUice  to- 
wards the  nation  1  have  dared  to  vindicate,  will  warrant 
its  infertion,  and  amply  compenfate  the  perulal. 


••••••••*  "A  dependency  of  Great  Britain,  Q^^  Ireland  ha.i 

long  languished  under  oppressions  r' probated  by  humanity,  and  dis- 
countenanced by  just  policy  It  would  ar^ue  penury  of  human  (Vi  lin;; 
and  ignorance  of  human  rights,  (J^  to  stthmit  p<itienthj  to  those  ot>pres- 
aiont.  Centuries  have  toitneused  the  struggles  of  Jr  hnid — but 

with  only  partial  success.  Rebellions  and  msuireclions  iiave  continued 
■with  but  short  intervals  of  tranquility.  N'any  of  the  Frisb,  like  the 
French,  are  the  hereditary  foes  of  Great  Britain  i^  ^Imevica  has 
opened  her  arms  to  the  oppressed  of  all  nations.  No  people  ha\e  avail- 
ed themselves  of  the  as\luni  with  more  alacrity  or  in  Riefiter  numbers 
thin  the  Irish.  (^  High  is  the  meed  of  praise,  rich  the  regard, 
■which  Irishmen  have  merited  from  the  gratitude  of  Jlmevica.  .\H 
HBHOES  AXD  STAlBS.VlfciN,  THEY  liONOUii  THEiK 
ADOPl'ED  COUNTRY." 

The  above  fublime  and  corre8  tribute  of  praife,  is  ex- 
tratled  from  the  Federal  Republican^  of  June  22,  1812, 

•  See  pamphlet,  entitled  «•  The  United  States  and  England,"  p.  90. 


% 


s 


.A 


i-f 


■■'•J 


»-"•• — - 


•>4.8 


TllK    OLIVE    BRANCH. 


and  forms  pait  ot"  an  unanimous  atidrcfs  aarceJ  \o  by 
the  JeJcral  members  ot  the  Icgiflatuie  ot  Mar)  land, 
pubhlhcii  in  cunlequcnce  of  the  Baluniore  riots. 


CHAP.  XLl. 


Addretis  to  the  Federalists  of  the  United  Statea. 


Gentleme;;, 


I  i 


u-u  -n 


An   attentive   perufal  of  the  preceding   pages  can,   1 
lopc,  hardly  have  tailed  to  place  me  beyond  the  fufpicion 


1 

ot  tiie  defplcable  vice,   flattery — and  mull  give    to    my 

coinincnddtion  at  lealt  the  merit  ot  fincerity. 

Alter  thefc  introductory  remarks,  I  make  no  fcrnple 
to  (ic'cl  ire  my  decided  conviftion,  that  in  private  life  I 
know  <){'  no  party,  in  ancient  or  modern  hiflory,  more 
oiU:tled  to  rofpeil;,  to  cfteem,  to  regard,  than  the  Amerl- 
ta:i  tcderalills  in  general — in  all  the  focial  relations  ot 
liufb.m  Is,  parent!;,  brotb.crs,  chiidien,  and  friends. — 
i  iiere  are  exceptions.  Rnt  they  aie  as  tew  as  apply  to 
any  l)ody  equaliy  numerous.  Political  prejudice,  or  the 
wided  diifviience  ot  opinions,  has  never  fo  far  obfcured 
my  vii'ual  r:iy,  as  to  prevent  me  from  difccming,  or  my 
realoninor  faculty  froin  acknowledging  this  ftrong,  this 
honourable  truth — the  more  decifive  in  its  nature,  tro 


in 


)e  nor  pronounced  by  a  po 


>lit:cal 


opponent. 


But,  fcilow  citizens,  after  this  frank  declaration  in 
vour  piaife  as  to  private  life,  aiid  for  priv«jte  virtue,  bt 
me  freely  difcijfs  your  public  conduct.  Believe  me  I 
mean  not  to  ofl'ond.  I  trufl  I  {hall  not.  I  addrefs  you 
the  words  of  truth.  Tl:e  crifis  forhids  the  ufe  of  ceremo- 
ny.    I  hope  you  will  give  the  fu' j  Z:!:  a  lerious  confidcra- 


tion- 


uul  receive  witii  mdahieme  wlrat  cman 


■  !> 


;tcs  f 


lom 


•andi 


idf 


or  ana  triendiir.p 


iih 


THE    OLIVE    nUASCH. 


a^o 


I  believe  there  Is  not  to  he  found  in  tlic  wideft  range  of 
hiftory  another  inftdncc  o\  a  party  fo  enlightened,  fo  in- 
telligent, fo  refpertable,  and  in  private  lite  fo  viituons, 
yielding  themfelves  up  fo  hiindiv,  fo  fuhniinivciv,  and 
with  fo  complete  an  abandonment  ot  the  plainell  dic- 
tates of  rcafon  and  common  fenfe,  into  the  hands  ot 
leaders  fo  undeferving  of  their  confidence.  In  and  alter 
the  days  of  Wafhington,  you  ftood  on  a  proud  eminence 
— on  high  and  commanding  ground.  You  were  tlic 
friends  of  order  and  good  government.  You  were 
trem!)lingly  alive  to  the  honour  of  yoin- cotmtry.  You 
ideuttlied  it  "  "h  your  own.  But  it  is  difhcult  to  find  a 
more  '  occ  'e  change  in  tlie  -  ..du'i  of  anv  hody  ot 
men  thati  has  laken  place  with  vour  leadcTS.  The  mind 
can  hirJiv  conceive  a  greater  contraft  than  between  a 
genuine  Wafhingtonian  federaliil  of  i-qo,  i.  2.  3,  4,  5, 
and  6,  and  the  Boitonian,  wlio,  covered  with  the  pre- 
tended mmtle  of  W.iihington  fcdcialifm,  deftrovs  the 
credit  of  iiis  own  government — and  collets  the  nut.diic 
medium  of  the  nation  t>)  follcr  tlie  armies  preparing  to  at- 
tack and  lav  it  wafle.  Never  were  holy  terms  foprolfi- 
tuted.  Walhington  from  heaven  looks  down  with  in- 
dignation at  fuch  a  vile  pervcrnoii  ot  the  authority  ot  his 
name. 

Let  me  requefl  your  attention  to  a  few  faBs — and  to 
refiecviions  and  queries,  refulting  from  them — 

I.  Your  proceedings  and  your  views  are  eulogized  in 
Montreal,  Quebec,  Halifax,  London  and  Liverpool. 
The  Courier,  and  the  Times,  and  the  Morning  Chroni- 
cle, and  the  Ledger,  and  tlie  London  Evening  Port,  and 
all  the  government  papers  are  loud  and  uniform  in  your 
praife.  (Jrf"  This  is  an  awful faB,  and  ought  to  make  you 
paufe  in  your  career. 

II  ^Your  party  rifes  as  \our  country  finks.     ^  It 
Jinks  as  your  country  ri/ei      This   is  another  awtul  t^ct. 

It  cannot  fail  to  rend  the  heart  ot  every  public  fpirited 
man  among  you.  For  the  love  of  the  God  of  peace — by 
tlie  fhade  of  Wafhington,  by  that  country  that  contains  all 
you  hold  dea-^.  f  adjure  you  to  weigh  well  this  fenlenct 
28* 


r^ 


k 


aI 


% 


•  ■  ,1 


% 


330 


THE  OLIVK    liHAXCH. 


^  you  fink  as  your  country  rif'u  Yes,  ll  is  itidnbitably 
fo.  It  is  a  terrific  and  appulling  truth,  And  ^^  \ou 
rife  at  thatilfffwnchniiJ'icenited,  pfrifn\n>r,  htlrayed  coun- 
try finks.  "  i  would  Kuhcr  be  a  doi^  and  bay  the  inoon," 
than  Hand  in  tins  odious  prcdica)nent. 

III.  Had  there  been  two  or  tlirce  furrendcrs  likp  Gen- 
eral Hull's — had  Copenliagenifm  befallen  New-Yoik,  or 
Piiilidclphia,  or  Baltimore,  or  Charlefton — or  bad  our 
Conflitutions,  and  United  States,  and  Prefidents,  and 
C'tnneilations,  and  our  Poiters,  and  Dccatnrs,  and  Bain- 
bridge.;,  and  Perrvs.  and  Hulls  been  funk  or  carried  into 
Halifax,  your  leaders  would  have  been  crowned  witli 
complete  fuceefs.  They  would  have  been  waited  on  a 
fpring-tide  to  that  power  which  is  *'  the  God  of  their  ido- 
latry." ^^  Every  event  that  pieds  lufhe  on  the  arnn  of 
Anifnca  is  to  them  a  defeat.  It  removes  to  a  diftaiu  c  the 
prize  to  which  their  eyes  and  efforts  are  direif-K*d.  ^^But 
every  arcumfhmce  that  entajls  difgrace  or  dijlrefs  on  the 
cou>itry,  zvhether  it  be  hanki  upfcy,  defeat^  treachery,  or  cow- 
ard'ce,  1!  auft)ic7ous  to  then  views. 

IV.  (J:^  Never  has  th^  fun  in  hu  ,r!oriou.s  courfe,  beheld 
fo  eflimahle^  fo  refpeclahle,  fo  enlightened  a  party  as  you 
are,  ni  the  fr^rlitful  fiuation,  in  which  the  ambition  of 
vour  leaders,  and  your  own  tame,  thoughtlels,  inexplica- 
ble acqiuefcencc,  have  placed  you. 

V.  By  iulniinations  [rom  the  pulpit — by  denunciations 
from  the  prefs — gj"  by  a  profufe  ufe  of  Britifh  government 

■  hills — by  unufual,  unneceffary,  hoftile  and  oppreflive 
drafts  for  fpecie  on  the  New-York  Banks — and  by  vari- 
ous other  unholy,  treafonable,  and  wicked  means,  the 
leaders  of  your  party  in  Boflon  have  reduced  he  govern- 
ment to  temporary  bankruptcy — have  produ  .ed  the  fame 
cffeft  on  our  banks — have  depreciated  the  flocks  and  al- 
inoft  every  fpecies  of  property  from  lo  to  30  per  cent. 

VI.  Thefe   treafonable    operations  have  ferved    the 
,  caufe  of  England  more  efTeftually,  than  lord  Wellington 

could  have  done  with  30,000  of  his  braveft  troops.  They 
have  produced  uicalculable,  and  to  many  remedilefs  dif- 
Irefs. 


'^^^W 


9  i^iB,  mmmr^wv^ 


THE    OLIVE  nUAXCH. 


331 


VII.  C'^"  Apcr  having  thus  treafonabh  dKJ}ro\ed  the 
L-redif  of  tht govnnm-nit,  o/id  of  their  j'lron^ejl  accu/atiuns 
is,  that  It  ii  banknipt* 

VIII.  VVitli  equal  juftice  mitrht  a  man  wljo  tics  anot'ier 
neck  and  heels,  aiul  gis^s  him,  blow  out  his  biaiiis  tor 
not  fmging  Yankee  doodle,  or  dancing  a  f  iraband,  ;is 
thofe  who  produce  bankruptcy  inculpitc  the  bankrupt 
with  his  forlorn  and  defpcrate  circumftinces. 

IX.  There  is  no  other  co.nitry  in  the  world,  where 
tliefe  proceedings  would  not  be  puniihed  feverelv — in 
many  capitally.  Tncir  guilt  is  enormous,  clear,  and  in- 
difputable.  They  flrike  at  the  fatety  and  even  tlie  exift- 
ence  of  fociety. 

X.  By  the  fedition  Iaw+ena8ed  by  fome  of  tliefe  very 
men,  and  their  followers,  heavy  fines  and  tedious  impiif- 
onment  were  awarded  againft  offences  incom])aidbly  in- 
terior. 

XI.  While  you  fupport  leaders,  whofe  career  is  fo  in- 
iquitous, were  you  in  private  lite  as  pure  as  archangels, 
yoj  partake  largely  of  the  guilt  ot  thofe  whom  you  up- 
liold  ;  whofe  power  of  deftruBion  depends  on  your  fup- 
port ;  and  wiio  would  fink  into  infignincance,  bat  lor 
your  countenance. 

XII.  If  the  pretext,  or  even  the  ft romr  belief,  on  the 
part  ot  a  minority,  that  a  war,  or  any  ot:icr  meafure  is  un- 
juft,  can  v^Mrrant  fuch  a  Jacobinical,  feditious,  ajid  trea- 
fonable  opoofuion  as  the  prefent  war  has  experienced,  no 
government  canexift.  The  minority  in  all  countries, 
uniformly  denounce  all  the  meafures  they  have  oppofed, 
as  unjult,  wicked,  unholy  ur  unconftitutional — or  all  uni- 
ted. 

XIII.  The  mofl;  unerring  chara6lerlftic  of  a  defperate 

•  It  is  impossibU  for  iHngnage  to  convey  tlie  contempt  nnd  abhorrence 
that  are  »'arned  by  somo  of  the  canl'mg,  winning  speuclies  diliveied  in 
congress  on  the  bankruptcy  of  the  government  by  men  who  were 
deeply  .guilty  of  proilucing  it— wIiosl-  trortson^ble  efPn-ts  have  been 
crowne(i  with  success — wlio  have  largely  coiitiilintetl  to  hhist  the  most 
cheering  pi'Osi)acts  'hat  heaven  ever  vonchsalVc)  to  accord  any  of  the 
hiiiian  race  'I'he  tears  thus  she. I,  arc  exactly  typifiml  by  those  that  so 
pleiUiCiilly  fall  from  the  voracious  croooJilc  over  the  prey  he  is  going  to 
Oevour.  t  See  page  2'. 


1 


1 


J 


333 


THE    OLIVE    DRANCM. 


faflion  Is  (Jir  an  uniform  oppofition  to  all  thi  weafincs 
prnl)i>l?d  hy  if.i  opponents,  whether  good  or  had^  and 
(JmT  without  offgrniiT  fnhjtitutes.  The  more  rlaiigerous  the 
crilis,  A\v\  the  more  neceirary  the  meafures,  tlic  more  iii- 
lallible  the  criterion. 

XIV.  This  charartcridic  cxaBlv  and  moft  indifputa- 
bly  applies  to  yoiu  leaders.  The  country  is  ou  the  b^ink 
o\  perdition.  Yet  they  have  oppofed  and  defeated  every 
meafure  devifed  tor  our  falv.ition.  Thev  appear  deter- 
mined to  deliver  us  tied  hand  and  foot  into  the  power 
ot  the  enemy,  unlefs  they  can  feize  tlic  reins  of  govern- 
ment. 

XV.  You  profcfs  to  be  difciplc;  of  Wa(hin<jfton.  The 
title  is  a  glorious  one.  Let  us  te(t  the  praHices  of  your 
lenders,  by  the  holy  maxims  of  Walhington.  He  railed 
his  voice  againit — warned  you  to  Hum — and  pronounced 
the  ftrongeff  condemnation  upon 

1.  All  obftmctions,  of  what  kind  foever,  to  the  execu- 
tion of  the  laws  ; 

2.  All  combmations  to  direft,  controul,or  awe  the  con- 
ftituted  authorities  ; 

3.  All  infidious  eflforts  to  (jtlT  excite  hojlUuy  between  the 
different  fedions  of  the  union  \  •. 

4.  And  in  the  moll  emphatical  manner,  ^all  attempts 
to  dffolve  the  union. 

Wl.  But  the  leaders  of  your  party,  particuhirly  in 
Bofton,  have 

1.  Openly  obftrufted  the  execution  of  the  laws  : — 

2.  Have  combined  to  controul  the  conftituted  author- 
ities ; 

3.  Have  aftually  excited  as  dire  hoftility  againft  the 
fouthern  ftates  in  the  breads  of  thofe  under  their  influ- 
ence in  the  eaftern,  as  exifts  between  France  and  Eng- 
land. 

And  4.  Have  been  conftantlv  endeavouring  by  a  feries 
of  the  mod  indammatorv  and  violent  publications  to 
^pr^pfire  the  tajiern  people  for  a  diffolution  of  the  union. 

XVII,  In  fine,  all  the  fteps  they  take  and  their  whole 


,i»u  wn^.iiii»iM 


THE    OLIVE    DIIANOII. 


Z3i 


courfc   of   proceedings  are  in  dire6l   hoflility  witli  tlic 


<iieed,  tijc  ad 


vice,  and  the  pratlice  ol   VValhington. 


XVIII.  Willie  you  tollow  fuch  leaders,  yon  may  pro- 
fefs  to  be  difciples  of  Wafhington,  but  an  inipaitial 
wot  Id  will  rejed  your  claim. 

XIX.  Suppofe  the  leaders  at  W  i{hIn£Ttop  fnccocd  in 
diivuiiT  M|-.  Madifon  and  t!u:  i)t:iei  public  luiW-tu)u  »i  ics 
fjoni  olFice,  and  feize  the  iritis  ol  i;ov<innu-iit  tiii'ir- 
felvcs,  what  a  melancholv,  difirnc'lui  tiuiMij)U  it  would 
be,  to  raife  your  paity  on  the  rums  ot  your  ioim  o\  gov- 
ernment ? 

XX.  Such  an  ufurpation  cannot  fail  to  produce  civil 
war. 

XXI.  l\  your  party  fet  the  example  of  fuch  .itiocions 
violence,  can  vou  pcrliMde  yourfelvcs  tliat  "  ihe  poi/o  >e.d 
chalue'  will  not,  at  no  very  didint  period,  be  retained 
to  \')\\\  own  lips  ? 

XXII.  Y'^n  profefs  to  dc fire  peace.  I  firmly  believe 
you  do.  But  aie  aivifk-us,  and  difliaMions,  and  enven- 
cnied  ("cKlions,  an  I  threatened  infurrettions,  tlie  feed  to 
iow  for  a  liHvoR  ot   peace  ? 

XXIII.  Al!  the  fc'ditious  and  treafonahle  nieafurcs 
adopted  m  B>Ii.)n  and  eliewhere,  to  barafs,  cripple, 
and  cinbarrafs  vour  {TovernuK'nt,  have  ii.id,  previous  to 
the  war,  a\\  ine\iti'>lc  ten  Iciicy  to  enable  Great  Britain 
to  tcLT'iI.ite,  controul,  -md  '  -Ih  :(ht  your  commerce— and 
to  i  :t  at  defiance  all  the  attcnipts  to  procure  redrefs — and 
fiuce  the  war,  their  tenden<:)  has  been  to  prolong  its  ra> 
va.^cs 

XXIV.  Are  von  picpared  —  can  vou  reconcile  \our- 
fclves  to  incur  all  t.ie  nhpie — to  funi-r  all  the  ruin  that 
a  levoiution  will  inf.illit)ly  produce,  to  ciia'olc  Kittus 
King,  'I'imothv  Pickeiing,  Chriftophcr  Gore,  C)ius 
Ki'.g,  and  Daniel  Wehller,  to  (eize  the  reiiiS  of  govern- 
ment,   and  exile  '''to  EI/ui"-— or'  execute    with    Cyrus 

'King's   celebr«»ted  '' haiirr'"  your  veneral)le   fi.  If  n.ngis- 
Irate  ?  Sipnofc  t;iev  fuccecd,  what  will  be  the  advautdj'C 


fo  y( 


'P!. 
u  individual .'v 


o 


■ 


I 


I 


-■■v*  •.j^aiis 


-iifc  -  -Ki'Ti- 


»3i 


THE    OLIVE    nnANOIt. 


1  plead  not,  fellow-citizens,  for  democracy — I  plead 
not  for  fcdcrdlifin.  'I'hcir  diflcienees  lidve  funk  into 
niter  infignificance.  Were  the  (ontell  between  them,  I 
ihould  not  have  foiled  a  (ingle  Iheet  of  paper.  I  plead 
again (l  jacobinirm — 1  plead  again fl  tafchon — I  plead  a- 
gainll  attempts  to  "  overawe  and  contioul  the  conftitiited 
aiithoiitics.'*  1  plead  the  caule  of  order — of  govern- 
ment— of  civil  and  religions  libeity.  I  plead  tor  the 
belt  conllitution  the  world  ever  faw — 1  plead  tor  yonr 
own  honour  as  a  p.at) ,  i^ivlnch  it  171  the  utmojl  jeopardy. 
I  j)lead  tor  youi  l)leednig  country  which  lies  proflrate 
and  detencelefs,  picrcccl  with  a  thoufand  wounds — I 
plead  for  your  aged  parents,  for  your  tender  children, 
lor  your  beloved  wives,  tor  your  pofterity  whofc  tate 
depends  upon  your  conduct  at  this  momentous  crifis. 
1  i^lead  for  your  eftates  which  are  going  to  ruin.  All, 
all,  loudly  implore  you  to  withdraw  )our  fupport  from 
thofe  who  ate  leagued  for  their  dcftruHion,  and  who 
make  you  inftruments  to  arconinlilh  tlicir  unholy  pur- 
pofes.  You  are  on  the  verge  of  a  reaping  vortex,  ready 
to  (wallow  up  yourfclves  and  your  devoted  country.  To 
advance  a  fingle  (tep  may  be  inevitable  perdition.  To 
the  right  about.  It  is  the  path  to  honour,  to  fafety,  to 
glory.  Aid  m  extricating  your  country  from  danger. 
And  then  it  you  fele6t  calm,  and  dilpaflionatc,  and  mo- 
derate candidates  for  public  otTice,  there  can  be  no  doubt 
of  your  fucceft:.  I  am  firmlv  perfuarled  that  nothing  l)Ut 
the  intemperate  and  unholy  violence  of  your  leaders  has 
prevented  you  from  having  that  (liarc  of  influence  in  the 
councils  of  the  nation  to  which  your  weahh,  your  num- 
bers, your  talents,  and  your  viitues  give  you  fo  fair  a 
claim. 

The  conftitution  may  be  imperfcff.  Every  thing  hn- 
man  partakes  of  human  infirmity  and  human  error.  It 
has  provided  a  proper  mode  of  amendment.  As  foon  as 
peace  is  re(fored,  and  the  fermentation  ot  public  palTions 
has  fubfided,  let  the  real  or  fuppofed  detefts  be  brought 
fairly  forward  and  fubmitted  to  the  legifl.itures,  or  to  <i 
convention,    as  may  be  judged  proper.     But  while  the 


TRR  OLIVE  DRAV«II. 


3af 


vefTel  of  ftate  is  on  rocks  and  quickfands,  let  us  not  mad- 
ly Ipcnd  the  time,  winch  ought  to  be  devoted  to  (ecurc 
her  fdlvcition  and  ours,  in  the  abfurd  and  ill  timed  attempt 
to  amend--. in  other  words  to  deftroy— the  charter  paity 
under  which  fhe  fails. 

May  tlie  Almighty  Difpofer  of  events  inflame  your 
Iiearts---cnlightcn  your  undeiflanding— and  direfi  yon  in 
the  pr(>i>er  coiwTe  to  fteer  at  this  momentous  crifis  !  And 
nidv  l»c  extend  to  our  common  country  that  gracious 
biefTinir  wliich  brought  her  fafely  through  one  revolution, 
without  entailing  on  us  the  frightful  curfes  infeparablc 
from  another  ! 


POSTSCRIPT. 


Ja  '  lary  9,  tsia. 
As  the  apprehcnfions  on  the  fubjcft  of  the  d /^olution 
of  the  union,  which  are  repeatedly  cxpieffcd  ii  das  book, 
and  wliich  have  led  to  it'*  publication,  a:  '  treated  by  ma  7 
as  chimcrical---and  as  the  refult  oi  the  Ha  tford  conven- 
tion, juft  publiihed,  appears  to  countenance  the  idea  that 
the  danger  is  overrated,  the  writer,  in  )uftification  of  his 
fears,  fimply  dates,  that  even  admitting  that  the  leading 
men  to  the  eaftward  do  not  contemplate  a  dllToSution  of 
the  union,  it  does  not  by  any  means  fodow  that  wc  arc 
fafe  from  fuch  an  event,  while  the  public  pafTions  are  fo 
conflantly  excited,  and  kept  in  fuch  a  high  ftate  of  fer- 
mentation. It  is  an  eafv  procefs  to  raifc  commotions, 
and  provoke  feditions.  But  to  allay  them  is  always  ardu- 
ous—often impoflible.  Te^  men  may  create  an  infutrec- 
tion— which  one  hundred  o-  ^  jual  talents  and  influence 
may  be  utterly  unable  to  fupprefs.  The  weapon  of  pop- 
ular difcontent,  eafily  wielded  at  the  outfet,  becomes, 
after  it  has  arrived  at  maturity,  too  potent  for  the  feeble 
grafp  of  the  agents,  by  whom  it  has  been  called  into  ex- 
iftence.  It  hurls  them  and  thofe  againft  whom  it  was  fii  ft 
employed,  into  the  fame  profound  abyfs  of  m'.fery  andl 


i35 


THE   OLIVE  BRANCH. 


deftnifllon.  Whoever  requires  illuftration  of  this  theo- 
ry, has  only  to  open  any  page  ot  the  hiftory  ot  France 
from  the  era  ot  the  national  convention  till  the  corn- 
mentenient  of  the  reign  ot  Bonaparte. 

The  ftyle  of  a  poition  ot  tlie  writing  that  appears  in 
fonie  of  our  papers,  will  jultity  the  autiioi  fion»  the  charge 
of  nifanity,  in  the  appiehenlions  he  entertains  on  this 
fuhjed.     a.  g. 

"  (Jn  or  hefore  the  4lh  of  July,  if  James  Madison  is  not  out  of  ofiice, 
a  neiv  form  of  government  -will  be  in  upemiion  in  the  eastern  section  of 
the  union  histantltj  ofter.  the  contest  in  many  of  the  states  iviil  be 
ivhether  to  adhere  to  the  old,  or  join  the  if  to  zovernmant.  Like  every 
thiiijj;  else  tbritoUt  ycai'S  ago,  and  vvhicli  is  verified  every  day,  lliis  warn- 
ing will  he  also  ri<lu'ule<l  as  visionary.  Be  it  so.  But  Mr.  Mad. son  can- 
not couiplele  Ills  tt'rm  ot  service,  if  the  var  continues.  It  is  nut  jiossi- 
ble,  i<nd  if  he  knew  human  nature  he  would  see  it."  Federal  licpubli- 
ea  ,  Noveniher  7.  18l4 

*'  !s  ih.  re  -  federalist,  a  patriot  in  America,  who  conceives  it  his  duty 
to  shed  his  blood  for  liuiiapiirle,  for  Madison,  for  JeiFerson,  and  that 
MOS  I  OF  UUFFI.WS  m  congress,  who  have  set  their  faces  against 
U.S  for  years,  and  s,  irited  up  the  uitorAL  i-aht  of  the  populace  id 
destroy  us  ?  Not  one  —.Shall  we  tiien  any  longer  be  heUl  in  slavery, 
and  driven  to  desperate  poverty,  by  such  a  graceless  faction  ?— Heave* 
forbid."     Bustua  (Jazette. 


THE  END 


i    r 


^„ 


n  of  this  they, 
lory  ot  France 
I  till  the  corn- 
that  appears  in 
lOHi  the  charge 
Mtains  on   this 


I  not  ouf  of  oflice, 
eastern  section  of 
the  states  lunl  6e 
lint.  Like  ev«."ry 
•y  tlay,  iliis  warn- 
iVlr.  Mad  son  can- 
».  It  is  not  jiossi- 
Federal  licpubli- 

iceives  it  liis  duty 
jfferson,  and  lUnt 
heir  faces  ag<inst 

PHE     POPULACK  lO 

held  in  slavery, 
iction  ? — Heavc'» 


